Humans perceive height and vertical drop using specific visual and vestibular cues
Multiple studies demonstrate that humans perceive height, vertical drop, and orientation by integrating visual and vestibular (gravito-inertial) cues.
The retrieved papers consistently demonstrate that human perception of verticality, height, and self-motion is mediated through the combination and integration of visual and vestibular cues (alongside proprioceptive and egocentric inputs). Thus, the claim is well-supported by the empirical literature.
R. A. A. Vingerhoets, M. De Vrijer, J. A. M. Van Gisbergen, W. P. Medendorp. Fusion of Visual and Vestibular Tilt Cues in the Perception of Visual Vertical. 2009. https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.90725.2008
Paper [0] demonstrates that visual and vestibular cues are integrated to determine the perceived vertical orientation.
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Ramy Kirollos, Chris M. Herdman. Caloric vestibular stimulation induces vestibular circular vection even with a conflicting visual display presented in a virtual reality headset. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1177/20416695231168093
Paper [1] shows optimal cue integration between visual and vestibular sensory inputs during self-motion.
Otmar Bock, Nils Bury. Interplay of Gravicentric, Egocentric, and Visual Cues About the Vertical in the Control of Arm Movement Direction. 2017. https://doi.org/10.1177/0301006617746842
Paper [2] confirms that spatial vertical perception relies on the weighted combination of gravicentric, egocentric, and visual cues.
Adamski M, Latka M. Reinterpretation of the rod-and-frame illusion: a virtual reality study.. 2025. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2025.1639864
Paper [3] highlights that multisensory integration of visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive inputs determines verticality and orientation errors.
Francois Denquin, Jamilah Foucher, Simon Pla, J. Sarrazin, B. Bardy. Optical and gravito-inertial contributions to the perception and control of height in a simulated Low-Altitude Flight context. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2021.1914352
Paper [5] indicates that optical and gravito-inertial cues are combined for the accurate perception and control of height during simulated flight.
Tani K, Tanaka H, Hirata A, Nagata Y, Mori N, Hosomi K, Matsugi A. Cerebellum Involvement in Visuo-vestibular Interaction for the Perception of Gravitational Direction: A Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Study.. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1523/eneuro.0111-25.2025
Paper [7] shows that the brain integrates multisensory information, specifically visual and vestibular signals, to perceive gravitational direction.
Martine Godfroy-Cooper, E. Bachelder, J. Miller, Sjsu, Add, AvMC, Francois Denquin, J. Sarrazin, Icna, Dtis, Onera. Influence of Optical and Gravito-Inertial Cues to Height Perception During Supervisory Control. 2020. https://doi.org/10.4050/f-0076-2020-16417
Paper [8] finds that both visual environment quality and gravito-inertial cues improve altitude and height awareness.
Martine Godfroy-Cooper, B. Bardy, J. Sarrazin, E. Bachelder, J. Miller. Visual-Gravitoinertial Interactions for Altitude Perception during Manual and Supervisory Control. 2021. https://doi.org/10.4050/f-0077-2021-16745
Paper [9] establishes that visual and gravito-inertial cues interact significantly for altitude and ground height perception.
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