What is the role of monocular cues in depth perception?

Monocular cues play a significant role in depth perception by enabling individuals to gauge the distance of objects using only one eye. These cues include aspects such as relative size, linear perspective, interposition, texture gradient, and motion parallax. Each of these cues provides important visual information that aids in understanding how far away an object is, independent of binocular vision.

For example, when two objects are known to be of similar size, the one that appears smaller is perceived as being farther away, while the gradual change in texture can indicate distance as well. Motion parallax, which involves the relative movement of objects as an observer moves, also contributes to depth perception when using just one eye. This is particularly crucial in environments where binocular vision may be limited or unavailable, such as when one eye is closed or obstructed.

In contrast, the other options either suggest the need for both eyes to analyze depth or refer to phenomena that do not accurately describe the nature of monocular cues. Monocular cues are specifically designed to work with one eye and thus effectively aid in visual depth perception under various circumstances.