Importance of visual and non-visual information for perceived distance anisotropy

Abstract

The aim of this research was to verify whether perceived distance anisotropy exists even when visual information are available, that is, to examine interaction of non-visual (vestibular and proprioceptive) and visual information in depth perception. An experiment was done in a forest, where there is a large number of equally distributed depth cues. Partiticipants were instructed to equalize the distance of the stimuli towards horizon with the distance of the standard towards zenith. As a stimuli we used paper circles, 30cm in diameter, and participants performed their task from standing and lying position. Results have shown that estimated distances towards horizon were longer than physically identical distances towards zenith, which means that distances towards horizon are being perceived as shorter. Shorten age of perceived distances towards horizon was smaller from lying position. These findings point out significance of vestibular and proprioceptive information on percieved distance anisotropy, regardless of presence of visual information.