Perceptual Development Lecture Outline Perceptual Development Methods Vision Acuity and Color Vision Pattern Perception Object Perception Depth Perception Intermodal Perception
Fantz’s Experiment on Infants’ Visual Perception Figure 5.14 Photo: © David Linton
Habituation: Gradual decrease in the strength of a response due to repetitive stimulation Ex: looking
Habituation and Dishabituation Figure 6.5 From Slater, A., Morison, V. & Somers, M., 1988, “Orientation Discrimination and Cortical Functions in the Human Newborn,” Perception, Vol. 17, pp. 597-602, Fig. 1 and Table 1. Reprinted by permission of Pion, London.
Visual acuity: Sharpness of visual discrimination
Development of Visual Acuity: Newborn: 20/400-20/800 By 6-8 months, close to a normal adult’s vision (20/20) Visual system continues to develop for several years
By 2 or 3 months, color vision is similar to adults Newborns: Don’t see full range of colors Seem to distinguish white or gray from some colors By 2 or 3 months, color vision is similar to adults
Pattern Perception Contrast Sensitivity: Ability to detect differences in light and dark areas in a visual pattern
Object Segregation: Perception of the boundaries between objects
Development of Object Segregation: Infants under 6 months use motion and physical location to differentiate objects After 6 months, begin to use shape, texture, and color (stationary cues) to differentiate objects (similar to adults)
Depth perception: Ability to judge the distance of objects from one another and from one’s self.
Kinetic Depth Cues (Optical Expansion) Related to motion Ex: “Defensive” blinking when object moves toward baby Used by 1-month-olds
Binocular Depth Cues Each eye receives a slightly different view of the visual field Retinal images are combined by the visual cortex to create the perception of depth (stereopsis)
Develops around 4 months of age Guides reaching behavior
Pictorial ( or Monocular) Depth Cues Used in pictures to create an illusion of 3 dimensions Exs: relative size; interposition
Used by 7-month-old infants (but not 5-month-olds)
Intermodal Perception: Integration of sensory information from two or more sensory systems