Final answer:
The theory mentioned posits that binocular vision is learned and reliant on specific anatomical features, supported by amblyopia studies. Critical periods of development are essential for learning depth perception, as evidenced by activation of depth-cue-responsive neural cells. Cultural and environmental factors further influence the learning process of visual perception.
Step-by-step explanation:
The theory in question holds that binocular vision is a learned response, which Helmholtz supports, but it also requires certain anatomical features to manifest effectively. The critical evidence cited for this view comes from studies on amblyopia—a condition that often serves as a natural experiment for understanding the development and deprivation of binocular vision. Amblyopia can be of various types, such as refractive (linked to differences in vision clarity between eyes), strabismic (related to a misalignment of eyes), or deprivation (due to a blockage of vision, say from a cataract).
Historically, significant figures like Ibn al-Haytham contributed to our understanding of the anatomical basis of vision, noting that light enters the eye via the lens and is then transmitted to the optic nerve. However, the concept of binocular disparity—the subtle difference in the images seen by the left and right eyes—elaborates on the idea that our brains learn to interpret these differences to perceive depth. This learning process may sometimes require activation during critical periods of an individual's early development for the neural responses associated with depth perception to persist into adulthood.
Contemporary studies, such as the multinational study conducted by Segall et al., suggest that cultural factors can influence perceptual experiences like susceptibility to visual illusions, illustrating that perception is not solely a biological response but can be shaped by learning and environment. Theories that consider neural processing also acknowledge that the eye itself processes information before it is transmitted to the brain, an understanding that is consistent with the importance of signal processing in achieving visual perception, including depth perception.
In sum, the evidence from both anatomical studies and our understanding of neural processing in the eye support the theory that while binocular vision requires certain anatomical structures, the ability to use these structures to perceive depth effectively is something that is learned and refined through experience.