The Familiar-Size Cue to Distance and Stereoscopic Depth Perception

Abstract

The role of the familiar-size cue to distance in stereoscopic depth perception was examined in two experiments. In experiment 1 subjects judged the depth of a binocularly viewed interval, the far point of which was defined by either a familiar or an unfamiliar object, and in experiment 2 subjects adjusted the depth of the interval so that its extent appeared equal to the length of a vertical reference extent positioned on the surface of the object. Although familiar size influenced depth estimates (experiment 1) it did not influence matching judgments (experiment 2). The findings are discussed with reference to the issue of the nature of the familiar-size effects on judgments of stereoscopic depth.