The familiar-size cue to depth under reduced-cue viewing conditions

The familiar-size cue to perceived depth was investigated in five experiments. The stimuli were stationary familiar objects viewed monocularly under otherwise completely darkened visual conditions. Perceived depth was measured directly with the method of verbal report and indirectly with the head-motion procedure. Although the familiar-size cue influenced verbal reports of the distances of the objects, it did not determine perceived depth as assessed with the head-motion procedure. These findings support the claim that familiar size is not a major determinant of perceived depth, and that cognitive or nonperceptual factors mediate the effects of familiar size on direct reports of depth and distance. Possible reasons for the failure of familiar size to influence the head-motion-derived measures of perceived depth are discussed with particular emphasis on the role of motion parallax in determining perceptions of depth and relative distance.