Sensitivity to linear-speed-gradient of radial expansion flow in infancy

Vision Res. 2004 Dec;44(27):3111-8. doi: 10.1016/j.visres.2004.07.029.

Abstract

A radial expansion flow having a linear-speed-gradient (linear-grad) creates robust perception of a rigid object moving-in-depth [Perception 19 (1990) 21]. It has been reported that sensitivity to a linear-grad of radial expansion emerges at 2 months of age [Infant Behavior and Development 17 (1994) 165]. In the present study, we examined the development of sensitivity to the linear-grad of radial expansion after 2 months of age with three experiments. A total of 197 2- to 5-month-old infants participated. The results showed that sensitivity to the linear-grad improves between 2 and 3 months of age (Experiment 1), and that the infants may discriminate between an expansion having linear-grad and that having zero-grad based on their perception of motion-in-depth (Experiments 2 and 3).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aging / psychology*
  • Child Development*
  • Depth Perception / physiology*
  • Discrimination, Psychological / physiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Motion Perception / physiology*
  • Photic Stimulation / methods
  • Psychophysics