What term describes the perception of light and motion outside the central visual field?

• A. central vision
• B. peripheral vision
• C. depth perception
• D. motion tracking

Answer: (B)

Peripheral vision describes the perception of light and motion outside the center of what you’re looking directly at. The outer part of the retina is rich in rods, which are especially good at picking up light changes and movement, even in dim conditions. This lets you notice something moving or a change in brightness in your side vision without needing to focus on it directly. In contrast, central vision is the sharp, detail-oriented vision you use for tasks like reading or recognizing faces. Depth perception relates to judging distances, using cues from both eyes, and isn’t about the location in your visual field. Motion tracking is about following moving objects, a function that can involve both central and peripheral vision but isn’t the term for the area of vision itself.