A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

What is motion parallax in the context of depth perception?

1. A technique to assess vision

2. A type of visual cue based on movement

3. A method for training young animals

4. An experimental procedure for studying infant behavior

The correct answer is: A type of visual cue based on movement

Motion parallax refers to a depth perception cue that arises from the relative motion of objects as an observer moves through space. When a person shifts their position, objects that are closer to them appear to move faster across their field of vision compared to those that are further away. This difference in movement speed provides critical information about the relative distance of objects in the environment. Understanding motion parallax is essential in depth perception because it enhances our ability to perceive three-dimensional structures in a two-dimensional visual field. The brain interprets the varying speeds at which objects move relative to one another to gauge how far they are located from the observer. This perceptual cue is part of binocular cues, which often work alongside other depth cues such as stereopsis to help us understand spatial relationships in our surroundings.