Depth Perception: Binocular and Monocular Cues

Depth Perception

• Ability to perceive objects three-dimensionally despite retinal images being two-dimensional.
• Uses two types of information (cues): binocular and monocular.

Binocular Cues

• Depth cues that depend on the combination of images from both eyes and how they work together.
• Retinal Disparity:
  • Difference between the images projected onto each retina due to the eyes' slightly different positions.
  • Brain uses this disparity to determine an object's depth or distance.
• Convergence:
  • Refers to the inward movement of the eyes when focusing on nearby objects.
  • Eyes converge more for closer objects and less for farther objects.
  • Muscle movements involved provide information about an object's distance.

Monocular Cues

• Depth cues available from the image in a single eye (either right or left).