Abstract
Visually perceived eye level (VPEL) and perceived pitch were measured while subjects viewed two sets of stimuli that were either upright or pitched top-toward or top-away from them. The first set of stimuli, a pair of vertical lines, caused systematic changes in perceived pitch and upward and downward VPEL shifts for the top-toward and top-away pitches, respectively. Neither the perceived pitch nor the VPEL measures with these stimuli differed between monocular and binocular viewing. The second set of stimuli was constructed so that when viewed at the appropriate pitch angle, the slopes of the lines in the retinal image of each stimulus were similar to those generated by a pair of vertical lines pitched symmetrically in the opposite direction. When viewed monocularly, these stimuli appeared pitched in the direction opposite their physical pitch, yet produced VPEL shifts consistent with the direction of their physical pitch. These results clearly demonstrate a dissociation between perceived pitch and VPEL. The same stimuli, when viewed binocularly, appeared pitched in the direction of their physical pitch and caused VPEL shifts consistent with this pitch direction. The retinal images of these stimuli, however, corresponded to those of vertical line stimuli pitched in the opposite direction. This finding is therefore inconsistent with the hypothesis that VPEL is determined solely on the basis of the orientation of lines in the retinal image.