Sensation & Perception - Depth Perception

Sensation & Perception

Depth Perception

1. Binocular Depth Information

• Binocular Disparity

  • Definition: Binocular disparity refers to the visual information gathered from both eyes, which provides some depth cues due to the slightly different images that each retina receives from the environment.

  • Significance: The differences between the images allow the brain to compute depth and distance.

  • Comparing the Image on Right and Left Retinas

  • Each retina captures slightly different views of the same object due to the separation between our eyes.

• Corresponding Retinal Points

  • Definition: Points on the two retinas that correspond to the same point in the external environment.

  • Horopter

  • Definition: The horopter is an imaginary circle that passes through the point of fixation and encapsulates all points that project onto corresponding retinal points in both eyes.

  • Characteristics:

    • Everything that falls on the horopter will appear in clear focus.

    • It indicates that the objects on this location are equidistant from the viewer.

• Non-corresponding (or Disparate) Points

  • Definition: Points that do not match on the two retinas when viewing the environment; these are points located outside the horopter.

• Stereopsis

  • Definition: Stereopsis is the resulting perception of depth that occurs as a result of binocular cues, particularly through the processing of binocular disparity in the brain.

  • Significance: This perceptual phenomenon allows individuals to perceive depth and three-dimensional structure, enhancing spatial awareness.