A Binocular Information Source for Size Perception.

Nam-Gyoon Kim

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.02078

Abstract

For too long, size perception research has been guided by the size distance invariance hypothesis. Although research to validate this hypothesis has been largely inconclusive, the hypothesis has endured, perhaps in part because alternative information sources for size perception were lacking. Here, I propose a binocular information source for size perception. The model, drawing on the binocular geometry of viewing a physical extent, is expressed solely in terms of four angular measures and interocular distance, with the explicit exclusion of egocentric distance information. Thus, the proposed information source, if utilized by the binocular system, should be able to augment the few existing sources of information for size perception (e.g., familiar size, texture gradient, and horizon ratio).

Highlights

For successful encounters with our surrounding surfaces it is essential that we perceive the sizes of various objects accurately
Size perception research has been dictated by the doctrine of size-distance invariance
As Gillam (1995) suspects, it is the simplicity of the geometry with which the hypothesis is portrayed (Figure 1A)

Summary

A Binocular Information Source for Size Perception

Reviewed by: Harold Hill, University of Wollongong, Australia Mark Georgeson, Aston University, United Kingdom James Gilchrist,. Specialty section: This article was submitted to Perception Science, a section of the journal Frontiers in Psychology. Size perception research has been guided by the size distance invariance hypothesis. Research to validate this hypothesis has been largely inconclusive, the hypothesis has endured, perhaps in part because alternative information sources for size perception were lacking. I propose a binocular information source for size perception. The model, drawing on the binocular geometry of viewing a physical extent, is expressed solely in terms of four angular measures and interocular distance, with the explicit exclusion of egocentric distance information. The proposed information source, if utilized by the binocular system, should be able to augment the few existing sources of information for size perception (e.g., familiar size, texture gradient, and horizon ratio)

INTRODUCTION

A BINOCULAR SOURCE OF INFORMATION FOR SIZE PERCEPTION

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GENERAL DISCUSSION