Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 28, 2026

A View of Their Own: Capturing the Egocentric View of Infants and Toddlers with Head-Mounted Cameras
03:56

A View of Their Own: Capturing the Egocentric View of Infants and Toddlers with Head-Mounted Cameras

Published on: October 5, 2018

Monocular compared to binocular depth perception in human infants

R D Walk

    Science (New York, N.Y.)
    |October 25, 1968
    PubMed

    Insights

    Human infants showed normal visual cliff avoidance with one eye covered for depths 25cm+. Younger infants (<9 months) displayed monocular weakness at 12.7cm, turning toward their open eye.

    Area of Science:

    • Developmental psychology
    • Human infant vision
    • Depth perception

    Background:

    • Depth perception is crucial for infant navigation and safety.
    • Understanding how infants develop and utilize binocular vision is essential for developmental studies.
    • The visual cliff paradigm is a widely used method to assess depth perception in infants.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the impact of temporary monocular vision on human infants' performance on the visual cliff.
    • To determine the age at which infants compensate for monocular vision on the visual cliff.
    • To identify potential weaknesses in depth perception under monocular conditions.

    Main Methods:

    • Human infants were fitted with an eye patch to induce temporary monocular vision.
    • Infants were placed on a visual cliff apparatus with varying visual depths.
    • Infant behavior, specifically their response to the cliff, was observed and recorded.

    Main Results:

    • Infants performed similarly to binocularly sighted infants at visual depths of 25 cm and greater.
    • Infants younger than 9 months exhibited a monocular weakness at a visual depth of 12.7 cm.
    • This weakness was characterized by a tendency to turn towards the uncovered eye.

    Conclusions:

    • Infants demonstrate robust depth perception capabilities even with temporary monocular vision at greater distances.
    • A critical developmental period exists before 9 months where infants are more susceptible to monocular visual deficits on the visual cliff.
    • These findings highlight the importance of binocular vision for fine-tuned depth perception in young infants.

    More Related Videos

    Assessing Binocular Central Visual Field and Binocular Eye Movements in a Dichoptic Viewing Condition07:45

    Assessing Binocular Central Visual Field and Binocular Eye Movements in a Dichoptic Viewing Condition

    Published on: July 21, 2020

    A Battery of Quantitative Binocular Vision Tests for Adults: Testing Protocols08:25

    A Battery of Quantitative Binocular Vision Tests for Adults: Testing Protocols

    Published on: June 16, 2026

    Related Concept Videos

    Vision01:24

    Vision

    Vision is the result of light being detected and transduced into neural signals by the retina of the eye. This information is then further analyzed and interpreted by the brain. First, light enters the front of the eye and is focused by the cornea and lens onto the retina—a thin sheet of neural tissue lining the back of the eye. Because of refraction through the convex lens of the eye, images are projected onto the retina upside-down and reversed.
    Anatomy of the Eyeball01:20

    Anatomy of the Eyeball

    The eye is a spherical, hollow structure composed of three tissue layers. The outer layer — the fibrous tunic, comprises the sclera — a white structure — and the cornea, which is transparent. The sclera encompasses some of the ocular surface, most of which is not visible. However, the 'white of the eye' is distinctively visible in humans compared to other species. The cornea, a clear covering at the front of the eye, enables light penetration. The eye's middle layer, the vascular tunic,...
    Depth Perception and Spatial Vision01:15

    Depth Perception and Spatial Vision

    Depth perception is the ability to perceive objects three-dimensionally. It relies on two types of cues: binocular and monocular. Binocular cues depend on the combination of images from both eyes and how the eyes work together. Since the eyes are in slightly different positions, each eye captures a slightly different image. This disparity between images, known as binocular disparity, helps the brain interpret depth. When the brain compares these images, it determines the distance to an object.
    Perceptual Constancy01:12

    Perceptual Constancy

    Perceptual constancy is the ability to recognize that objects remain consistent and unchanged even when their appearance varies due to changes in sensory input. There are four main types of perceptual constancy: size constancy, shape constancy, color constancy, and brightness constancy.
    Size constancy is the recognition that an object remains the same size, even when its image on the retina changes. For instance, a bus is perceived to be large enough to carry people, even if it looks tiny from...
    The Nativist Approach01:21

    The Nativist Approach

    The nativist approach to infant cognitive development proposes that infants are born with inherent knowledge structures that allow them to interpret the world almost immediately. This perspective contrasts with earlier developmental theories, such as those proposed by Jean Piaget, which emphasized a more gradual acquisition of cognitive abilities through interaction with the environment. One key concept in this approach is object permanence — the understanding that objects continue to exist...