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The influence of previously seen objects' sizes in distance judgments
Rita Sousa1, Jeroen B J Smeets, Eli Brenner
1Research Institute MOVE, Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. ritass@gmail.com
Journal of Vision
|February 5, 2013
Summary
Previous object size influences current distance perception. Even when retinal image size is identical, a smaller preceding object leads to judging the current object as nearer, indicating a direct size-based influence on distance estimation.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cognitive Science
- Visual Perception
Background:
- Object size and distance are inferred from retinal image size, creating a coupled perception.
- Direct physical size information is unavailable, necessitating assumptions about object dimensions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if prior object sizes influence assumptions about current physical size.
- To determine if these assumptions affect the interpretation of retinal image size in terms of distance.
Main Methods:
- Participants performed a tactile localization task with binocularly simulated red cubes.
- The size of the preceding cube varied to test its influence on distance judgments of identical target cubes.
Main Results:
- Identical target cubes were perceived as nearer when preceded by a smaller cube compared to a larger one.
- This effect suggests a direct influence of the previous trial's object size on distance perception.
Conclusions:
- Prior object size directly impacts current distance judgments, beyond simple expectation adjustment.
- Perceptual assumptions about object size are dynamically updated based on recent visual experience.
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