Oculomotor Effects in the Size-Distance Paradox and the Moon Illusion

Abstract

Drawing on 2 concepts—the resting position of the eyes and a binocular geometry for perceived size, the moon illusion is explained as the consequence of different oculomotor adjustments caused by change in the direction of gaze contingent upon the viewing conditions of the moon. Hence, each particular moon will be viewed with a different vergence state which, in turn, yields a different amount of binocular disparity. The vergence state will determine the perceived size of an object whereas disparity will determine its perceived distance. It is further contended that the perceived size of the moon is based on a new binocular information source for size perception enabling the size of an object to be perceived even in the absence of egocentric distance information. Discussion focuses on the paradoxical aspect of the moon illusion and how the size-distance invariance hypothesis may have contributed to its effect.