Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Depth cues are visual cues that help us perceive and understand the three-dimensional world around us. They provide information about the relative distances and positions of objects in our visual field.
These are depth cues that rely on both eyes working together to perceive distance. Examples include convergence (the inward turning of our eyes as an object gets closer) and retinal disparity (the slight difference between the images seen by each eye).
These are depth cues that can be perceived with just one eye. Examples include relative size (perceiving smaller objects as farther away), texture gradient (objects appearing less detailed as they get farther away), and linear perspective (parallel lines appearing to converge in the distance).
Motion Parallax: This is a monocular depth cue that involves perceiving movement of nearby objects more quickly than those far away when we're moving. It helps us judge distance while moving or observing moving objects.