A comparative and analytical study of visual depth perception.

Walk, Richard D.; Gibson, Eleanor J.

doi:10.1037/h0093827

Cited by 326 publications

(250 citation statements)

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“…Another interpretation might argue that the ability to discriminate depth is innately present in the Mongolian gerbil, but that performance on the visual cliff is also contingent on the development of an appropriate fear response motivating avoidance of the deep side, as suggested by primate research (Walk & Gibson, 1961;Wilson & Riesen, 1966). The presence of real cliffs in the home environment of the CE group might facilitate the rapid acquisition of this fear response as a result of actual experience in negotiating cliffs, thereby causing avoidance of the deep side on the visual cliff.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…171 a greater reliance on tactual as opposed to visual clues in governing the descent behavior of this animal. When the vibrissae are clipped so that the rats cannot rely on tactual cues, they show a preference for the shallow side, as do other species (Gibson & Walk, 1960;Schiffman et al, 1970;Walk & Gibson, 1961).…”

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“…When tested on this device, chicks, cats, dogs, mice, rats, goats, lions, tigers, rabbits, golden hamsters, Egyptian gerbils, sheep, pigs, jaguars, snow leopard cubs, monkeys, and human infants show a preference for the shallow side of the cliff (Gibson & Walk, 1960;Rosenblum & Cross, 1963;Routtenberg & Glickman, 1964;Thiessen, Lindzey, Blum, Tucker, & Friend, 1968;Walk, 1965;Walk & Gibson, 1961). In addition, many species have been tested shortly after birth, and the results indicate that the preference for the shallow side is present as soon as the infants are capable of independent locomotion (Gibson, 1969;Walk & Gibson, 1961). A conclusion frequently drawn from this research is that the perception of depth is innate in all species for which the avoidance of a sheer drop-off is a requirement for survival.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Although at least one class of depth information must be processed innately in order for a species to perform well on the visual cliff shortly after birth, experience might allow other classes of depth information to acquire cue value through contingent associations with that class detected by innate mechanisms (Walk & Gibson, 1961). For example, while young rats do not prefer descent to a textured pattern having physically larger and less densely packed texture elements of two patterns placed directly underneath the glass, older rats do show such a preference (Shinkman, 1962;Walk & Gibson, 1961). This suggests that texture size or density is acquired as a cue regulating descent behavior on the visual cliff.…”

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The effect of environment on visual cliff performance in the Mongolian gerbil

Bradley

Shea

1977

Perception & Psychophysics

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Depth perception in the Mongolian gerbil was investigated as a function of age and environment. Thirty-two gerbils were raised in either a cliff or flat environment, and half the gerbils in each condition were tested on the visual cliff from 21 to 57 days of age. All gerbils were tested at 60-61 days on a standard visual cliff, a barrier cliff which prevented movement along the centerboard, and a jumping platform. While the gerbils did not display a preference for the shallow side when tested at 21 days, those living in a cliff environment showed rapid acquisition of such a preference, whereas those living in a flat environment did not. By 60-61 days, however, all gerbils demonstrated a strong preference for the shallow side on both versions of the visual cliff, regardless of environment or pretesting experience.Following a now-classic study by Lashley and Russell (1934), many investigators have attempted to determine whether the perception of depth is innate or learned. The most popular apparatus for assessing the presence of depth perception has been the visual cliff

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The effect of environment on visual cliff performance in the Mongolian gerbil

Bradley

Shea

1977

Perception & Psychophysics

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“…Walk & Gibson (1961) found that albino and hooded rats showed equal preference for the shallow side of the visual cHff when the center board height was 4 in., the deep side was 10 in. below the glass, and adefinite textured pattern was used on both the shallow and deep sides.…”

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confidence: 99%