stereopsis

noun

ste·​re·​op·​sis ˌster-ē-ˈäp-səs 

ˌstir-

: stereoscopic vision

Examples of stereopsis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The researchers wanted to determine whether the cuttlefish employ stereopsis, a process to perceive depth by using visual information captured by each eye. —Ryan W. Miller, USA TODAY, 9 Jan. 2020

The researchers were able to determine that cuttlefish can account for the differences between what their eyes see using computations in the brain — known as stereopsis — and consequently adjust their position in the tank in real time. —CBS News, 9 Jan. 2020

This visual trick, called stereopsis or stereo vision, requires complex coordination between the eyes and the brain, and it was once thought to be unique to vertebrates. —Katherine J. Wu, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Jan. 2020

Known as stereopsis, the trick takes a lot of processing power—and scientists didn’t think many animals had enough brains to do it. —Jason Daley, Smithsonian, 10 Feb. 2018

Karin Nordstrom at Flinders University tells Yong that this study raises the possibility that other predator insects including robber flies and dragonflies also use stereopsis. —Jason Daley, Smithsonian, 10 Feb. 2018

In humans, this effect would have fried our stereopsis, preventing us from aligning the two pictures. —Jason Daley, Smithsonian, 10 Feb. 2018

The idea seemed odd, since insect eyes evolved independently from people and stereopsis was assumed to be a characteristic of mammals with forward-facing eyes. —National Geographic, 28 Apr. 2017

Animals that see in stereopsis use small differences in an object’s location perceived by the right and left eye to calculate how far away the object is. —National Geographic, 28 Apr. 2017

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from stere- + Greek opsis vision, appearance — more at optic

First Known Use

circa 1911, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

stereopsis

noun

ste·​re·​op·​sis ˌster-ē-ˈäp-səs, ˌstir- 

: stereoscopic vision