Convergence Responses to Monocularly Viewed Objects: Implications for Distance Perception

Perception ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 303-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Predebon

In four experiments the role of dark vergence and the implied distance from the familiar-size and suggested-size cues to distance on the convergence response was investigated. A nonius-alignment technique was used to measure the convergence response in total darkness (dark vergence) and the fusion-free convergence response to monocularly viewed objects presented at a distance of 75 cm under otherwise reduced stimulus conditions. Observers also estimated the size and distance of the objects. The results indicated a significant association between individuals' dark-vergence distances and the convergence distances to the objects. Furthermore, the convergence response was influenced by the implied distance from the familiar-size cue but not by the implied distance from size suggestions. Both the familiar-size and the suggested-size cues influenced reports of distance. The implications of these findings for distance perception are discussed with particular reference to the familiar-size cue to distance.

2010 ◽  
Vol 3 (9) ◽  
pp. 15-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. K Witt ◽  
D. R Proffitt ◽  
W. Epstein
Keyword(s):  

Perception ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 23 (11) ◽  
pp. 1301-1312 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Predebon ◽  
Jacob Steven Woolley

The familiar-size cue to perceived depth was investigated in five experiments. The stimuli were stationary familiar objects viewed monocularly under otherwise completely darkened visual conditions. Perceived depth was measured directly with the method of verbal report and indirectly with the head-motion procedure. Although the familiar-size cue influenced verbal reports of the distances of the objects, it did not determine perceived depth as assessed with the head-motion procedure. These findings support the claim that familiar size is not a major determinant of perceived depth, and that cognitive or nonperceptual factors mediate the effects of familiar size on direct reports of depth and distance. Possible reasons for the failure of familiar size to influence the head-motion-derived measures of perceived depth are discussed with particular emphasis on the role of motion parallax in determining perceptions of depth and relative distance.


2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Flannagan ◽  
Michael Sivak ◽  
Julie K. Simpson

2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 253-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Sperandio ◽  
Irene Sperandio ◽  
Philippe A. Chouinard

Size constancy is the result of cognitive scaling operations that enable us to perceive an object as having the same size when presented at different viewing distances. In this article, we review the literature on size and distance perception to form an overarching synthesis of how the brain might combine retinal images and distance cues of retinal and extra-retinal origin to produce a perceptual visual experience of a world where objects have a constant size. A convergence of evidence from visual psychophysics, neurophysiology, neuropsychology, electrophysiology and neuroimaging highlight the primary visual cortex (V1) as an important node in mediating size–distance scaling. It is now evident that this brain area is involved in the integration of multiple signals for the purposes of size perception and does much more than fulfil the role of an entry position in a series of hierarchical cortical events. We also discuss how information from other sensory modalities can also contribute to size–distance scaling and shape our perceptual visual experience.


Perception ◽  
10.1068/p7153 ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esteban R Calcagno ◽  
Ezequiel L Abregú ◽  
Manuel C Eguía ◽  
Ramiro Vergara

In humans, multisensory interaction is an important strategy for improving the detection of stimuli of different nature and reducing the variability of response. It is known that the presence of visual information affects the auditory perception in the horizontal plane (azimuth), but there are few researches that study the influence of vision in the auditory distance perception. In general, the data obtained from these studies are contradictory and do not completely define the way in which visual cues affect the apparent distance of a sound source. Here psychophysical experiments on auditory distance perception in humans are performed, including and excluding visual cues. The results show that the apparent distance from the source is affected by the presence of visual information and that subjects can store in their memory a representation of the environment that later improves the perception of distance.


Perception ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 985-995 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Predebon

The role of the familiar-size cue to distance in stereoscopic depth perception was examined in two experiments. In experiment 1 subjects judged the depth of a binocularly viewed interval, the far point of which was defined by either a familiar or an unfamiliar object, and in experiment 2 subjects adjusted the depth of the interval so that its extent appeared equal to the length of a vertical reference extent positioned on the surface of the object. Although familiar size influenced depth estimates (experiment 1) it did not influence matching judgments (experiment 2). The findings are discussed with reference to the issue of the nature of the familiar-size effects on judgments of stereoscopic depth.


Author(s):  
Hengshan Li ◽  
Panagiotis Mavros ◽  
Jakub Krukar ◽  
Christoph Hölscher

AbstractImmersive virtual reality (VR) technology has become a popular method for fundamental and applied spatial cognition research. One challenge researchers face is emulating walking in a large-scale virtual space although the user is in fact in a small physical space. To address this, a variety of movement interfaces in VR have been proposed, from traditional joysticks to teleportation and omnidirectional treadmills. These movement methods tap into different mental processes of spatial learning during navigation, but their impacts on distance perception remain unclear. In this paper, we investigated the role of visual display, proprioception, and optic flow on distance perception in a large-scale building by manipulating four different movement methods. Eighty participants either walked in a real building, or moved through its virtual replica using one of three movement methods: VR-treadmill, VR-touchpad, and VR-teleportation. Results revealed that, first, visual display played a major role in both perceived and traversed distance estimates but did not impact environmental distance estimates. Second, proprioception and optic flow did not impact the overall accuracy of distance perception, but having only an intermittent optic flow (in the VR-teleportation movement method) impaired the precision of traversed distance estimates. In conclusion, movement method plays a significant role in distance perception but does not impact the configurational knowledge learned in a large-scale real and virtual building, and the VR-touchpad movement method provides an effective interface for navigation in VR.


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