Britannica AI Icon

depth perception

Also known as: stereopsis

Quick Summary

Depth perception is the ability to judge the distance of objects and their spatial relationships. Even though the image on the retina is two-dimensional, humans can perceive three-dimensional space. This is achieved through various cues, even when viewing with a single eye (monocular cues).12

Monocular cues include:
* Apparent movement: Objects nearer to the observer appear to move in the opposite direction of head movement relative to more distant objects.2
* Perspective: How an object's appearance changes when viewed from different angles helps in judging depth. Familiarity with an object's true shape aids in interpreting its two-dimensional representation.2
* Light and shade, overlapping contours, and relative sizes of familiar objects also contribute to depth perception.2

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.