Chapter 16 - Section 16.5 - Study Guide - Assess Your Learning Outcomes - Page 626: 20

Stereoscopic vision, also known as binocular vision, is the ability to perceive depth and three-dimensional spatial relationships by using both eyes together. This depth perception arises from the retinal disparity between the images captured by each eye. Here's how the retinal basis of stereoscopic vision works: 1. **Binocular Disparity:** - Each eye views the world from a slightly different perspective because they are positioned apart on the face. This difference in perspective is called binocular disparity. - Objects in the near environment will appear to have a greater disparity between the images seen by each eye compared to objects in the distance. 2. **Corresponding Points:** - To create a unified perception of the visual world, the brain needs to align and match corresponding points in the images from each eye. Corresponding points are locations on the two retinas that overlap when the eyes are correctly converged on a single point in space. - The brain uses these corresponding points as a reference to compute the relative depth and distance of objects in the visual scene. 3. **Stereopsis:** - Stereopsis is the visual perception of depth that arises from the differences in the positions of corresponding points on the two retinas. - When the brain processes the retinal disparity (the angular difference in position of an object as seen by each eye), it can calculate the depth of objects in the visual field. - Objects closer to the observer will have a greater retinal disparity, while objects farther away will have a smaller disparity. 4. **Visual Cortex Processing:** - The visual cortex, particularly areas in the occipital and parietal lobes of the brain, is responsible for processing the information related to stereopsis. - Neurons in these areas are sensitive to disparities and help in the computation of depth and three-dimensional perception. 5. **Fusion and Perception:** - The brain combines the slightly different images from each eye into a single, coherent, and three-dimensional perceptual experience. - This fusion of the images is crucial for the perception of depth, as the brain can compare the retinal disparities and compute the relative depth and distance of objects in the visual scene. 6. **Depth Cues:** - While binocular disparity is a powerful cue for depth perception, it is not the only one. Monocular depth cues, such as perspective, relative size, occlusion, and shading, also contribute to our perception of depth and help the brain refine the three-dimensional representation of the visual environment. In summary, stereoscopic vision is based on the retinal disparity created by the slightly different perspectives of each eye. The brain processes this disparity to compute depth and perceive the three-dimensional aspects of the visual world. This ability to perceive depth is crucial for tasks such as judging distances, catching objects, and navigating through the environment.

Stereoscopic vision, also known as binocular vision, is the ability to perceive depth and three-dimensional spatial relationships by using both eyes together. This depth perception arises from the retinal disparity between the images captured by each eye. Here's how the retinal basis of stereoscopic vision works: 1. **Binocular Disparity:** - Each eye views the world from a slightly different perspective because they are positioned apart on the face. This difference in perspective is called binocular disparity. - Objects in the near environment will appear to have a greater disparity between the images seen by each eye compared to objects in the distance. 2. **Corresponding Points:** - To create a unified perception of the visual world, the brain needs to align and match corresponding points in the images from each eye. Corresponding points are locations on the two retinas that overlap when the eyes are correctly converged on a single point in space. - The brain uses these corresponding points as a reference to compute the relative depth and distance of objects in the visual scene. 3. **Stereopsis:** - Stereopsis is the visual perception of depth that arises from the differences in the positions of corresponding points on the two retinas. - When the brain processes the retinal disparity (the angular difference in position of an object as seen by each eye), it can calculate the depth of objects in the visual field. - Objects closer to the observer will have a greater retinal disparity, while objects farther away will have a smaller disparity. 4. **Visual Cortex Processing:** - The visual cortex, particularly areas in the occipital and parietal lobes of the brain, is responsible for processing the information related to stereopsis. - Neurons in these areas are sensitive to disparities and help in the computation of depth and three-dimensional perception. 5. **Fusion and Perception:** - The brain combines the slightly different images from each eye into a single, coherent, and three-dimensional perceptual experience. - This fusion of the images is crucial for the perception of depth, as the brain can compare the retinal disparities and compute the relative depth and distance of objects in the visual scene. 6. **Depth Cues:** - While binocular disparity is a powerful cue for depth perception, it is not the only one. Monocular depth cues, such as perspective, relative size, occlusion, and shading, also contribute to our perception of depth and help the brain refine the three-dimensional representation of the visual environment. In summary, stereoscopic vision is based on the retinal disparity created by the slightly different perspectives of each eye. The brain processes this disparity to compute depth and perceive the three-dimensional aspects of the visual world. This ability to perceive depth is crucial for tasks such as judging distances, catching objects, and navigating through the environment.