Art and the Oculomotor System: Perspective Illustrations Evoke Vergence Changes

Abstract

When a painting or drawing is viewed monocularly and fixation alternated between points that are at different implied distances from the observer, the covered eye usually makes vergence movements that are directionally appropriate for the indicated depth differences. These vergence changes evoked by perspective artwork vary greatly in magnitude and consistency from one illustration to the next: some drawings and paintings lead to convergence–divergence changes smaller than would be appropriate for the illustrated content, if seen from the implied viewing distance; others are supernormal stimuli, evoking inappropriately large vergence changes in all observers tested.