Visual Perception

binocular vision

when both eyes see one image at the same time

brightness/color constancy

objects appear the same brightness or color even as the light reflecting off the object changes

closure

the Gestalt principle that we mentally close gaps in incomplete images

depth perception cues

visual cues that tell our brains something is three-dimensional

figure-ground perception

the ability to distinguish an object from a background

interposition

when one object blocks another, the appearance that the object being blocked is behind the object blocking it

linear perspective

the cue that parallel lines, such as on a railroad track or road, appear to converge as they recede into the distance

Mach bands

when two shades of gray meet, the impression that the colors contrast more where they meet

motion parallax

when an object is approaching from a distance, the appearance that it gets faster as it approaches

Necker cube

the appearance in a three-dimentsional outline of a cube in which its back and front face orientations create an illusion

Penrose staircase

a staircase that is an endless loop, with steps descending in a clockwise direction or ascending endlessly in a counterclockwise direction

perceptual constancy

our ability to maintain a constant perception of an object despite changes on the retina

relative size

depth cue in which the more distant and object, the smaller its image will be on the retina

retinal disparity

each eye has a slightly different view because of the distance between them

shape constancy

objects viewed from different angles will produce different shapes on our retinas, but we know the shape of an object remains the same

size constancy

perceptual constancy in which objects keep the same proportional size even as a viewer's distance from them changes

texture gradient

how objects that are farther away have less detail than objects that are nearer