Abstract
Empirical studies of the locus of perceived equidistance in binocular vision have revealed a characteristic change of its form, depending on absolute distance. This result is commonly taken to indicate influence of vergence-related binocular information, a conclusion that is by no means exclusively dictated by the data. Heller (1997) has suggested an alternative theoretical account that is based on the idea of independently combining the outcome of monocular input transformations without any form of binocular interaction. This article provides an experimental test of the structural assumption lying at the core of the axiomatic foundation of Heller’s theory. I test the so-called Reidemeister condition under reduced cue conditions in two settings for each of 7 subjects. The results provide strong evidence for the validity of the Reidemeister condition and thus challenge the view that the locus of perceived equidistance depends on vergence-related binocular information. The discussion of the factors contributing to the monocular input transformations emphasizes the role of the optical properties of the eyes.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Aczél, J., Boros, Z., Heller, J., &Ng, C. T. (1999). Functional equations in binocular space perception.Journal of Mathematical Psychology,43, 71–101.
Blank, A. A. (1978). Metric geometry in human binocular perception: Theory and fact. In E. L. J. Leeuwenberg & H. F. J. M. Buffart (Eds.),Formal theories of visual perception (pp. 83–102). New York: Wiley.
Edgington, E. S. (1995).Randomization tests (3rd ed.). New York: Dekker.
Foley, J. M. (1965). Visual space: A scale of perceived relative direction.Proceedings of the 73rd Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, 49–50.
Foley, J. M. (1966). Locus of perceived equidistance as a function of viewing distance.Journal of the Optical Society of America,56, 822–827.
Foley, J. M. (1970). Loci of perceived, equi-, half- and double-distance in stereoscopic vision.Vision Research,10, 1201–1209.
Foley, J. M. (1978). Primary distance perception. In R. Held, H. W. Leibowitz, & H.-L. Teuber (Eds.),Handbook of sensory physiology: Vol. VIII. Perception (pp. 181–213). Berlin: Springer-Verlag.
Foley, J. M. (1980). Binocular distance perception.Psychological Review,87, 411–434.
Foley, J. M. (1991). Binocular space perception. In D. Regan & J. R. Cronly-Dillon (Eds.),Binocular vision: Vision and visual dysfunction, Vol. 9 (pp. 75–92). Basingstoke, U.K.: Macmillan.
Foley, J. M., &Richards, W. (1972). Effects of voluntary eye movement and convergence on the binocular appreciation of depth.Perception & Psychophysics,11, 423–427.
Good, P. I. (2000).Permutation tests (2nd ed.). New York: Springer-Verlag.
Gulick, W. L., &Lawson, R. B. (1976).Human stereopsis: A psychophysical analysis. New York: Oxford University Press.
Hardy, L. H., Rand, G., Rittler, M. C., Blank, A. A., &Boeder, P. (1953).The geometry of binocular space perception. New York: Knapp Memorial Laboratories.
Heller, J. (1997). On the psychophysics of binocular space perception.Journal of Mathematical Psychology,41, 29–43.
Howard, I. P., &Rogers, B. J. (1995).Binocular vision and stereopsis. New York: Oxford University Press.
Indow, T. (1991). A critical review of Luneburg’s model with regard to global structure of visual space.Psychological Review,98, 430–453.
Kesten, H. (1958). Accelerated stochastic approximation.Annals of Mathematical Statistics,29, 41–59.
Krantz, D. H., Luce, R. D., Suppes, P., &Tversky, A. (1971).Foundations of measurement (Vol. 1). New York: Academic Press.
Luneburg, R. K. (1947).Mathematical analysis of binocular vision. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
Mon-Williams, M., &Tresilian, J. R. (1999). Some recent studies on the extraretinal contribution to distance perception.Perception,28, 167–181.
Roberts, F. S., &Suppes, P. (1967). Some problems in the geometry of visual perception.Synthèse,17, 171–201.
Viguier, A., Clément, G., &Trotter, Y. (2001). Distance perception within near visual space.Perception,30, 115–124.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Note—This article was accepted by the previous editorial team, headed by Neil Macmillan.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Heller, J. The locus of perceived equidistance in binocular vision. Perception & Psychophysics 66, 1162–1170 (2004). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03196843
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03196843