Retinal Disparity - GCSE Psychology Definition

Reviewed by: Lucy Vinson

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Retinal disparity is a key concept in understanding how we see things in three dimensions. It refers to the small difference between the images that each of our eyes sees because they are spaced a little apart. Our brain takes in two slightly different images to judge how far away things are, helping us see depth and perceive the world in 3D. This ability is important in activities such as catching a ball or driving a car, where judging distance accurately is crucial. Retinal disparity is one of the main reasons we can interpret depth perception, and it's an important topic when studying how our brain processes visual information.

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Lucy Vinson

Reviewer: Lucy Vinson

Expertise: Psychology Content Creator

Lucy has been a part of Save My Exams since 2024 and is responsible for all things Psychology & Social Science in her role as Subject Lead. Prior to this, Lucy taught for 5 years, including Computing (KS3), Geography (KS3 & GCSE) and Psychology A Level as a Subject Lead for 4 years. She loves teaching research methods and psychopathology. Outside of the classroom, she has provided pastoral support for hundreds of boarding students over a four year period as a boarding house tutor.

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