Individual differences in the use of depth cues: implications for computer- and video-based tasks

This paper reports an experimental study of individual differences in the performance of computer-stimulated and 'real world' versions of an interactive depth perception task. The availability of depth cues (disparity, accommodation, luminance, and texture) was manipulated. Results indicate that ability to perceive depth using binocular cues is not associated with ability to perceive depth using monocular cues. Further, ability to integrate cues was a strong correlate of depth perception when multiple cues were available, and appeared more important in this respect than ability to use individual depth cues. Correlations between psychometric measures of fluid intelligence/spatial ability and depth perception were generally weak, but consistent with the broader pattern of results, suggesting that individual differences in depth perception should currently be regarded as 'cue specific'. Hypothesized facilitative effects of paradoxical monocular stereopsis were not found.