Perceptual Development Summary

Learning Objectives

• Understand the preferential looking method in infant research.

• Appreciate the development of visual perception aspects.

• Consider how early experiences shape perception.

Importance of Visual Perception

• Affects early education, arts, baby products, and theory.

Research Methods

• Preferential looking method indicates infant visual preferences.

• Data collected focuses on familiar and novel stimuli.

Preferences in Visual System

• Infants show reliable preferences for high contrast images and face-like stimuli.

• Evidence from studies (Fantz, 1956; Fantz & Nevis, 1967).

Visual System Development

• Poor visual acuity at birth, improves to 20/20 by 36 months.

• Critical periods are sensitive to environmental stimuli.

Colour Perception

• Colour receptors present at birth; pathways immature.

• By 3 months, colour vision aligns with adults.

• Colour discrimination thresholds improve with age.

Face Recognition

• Infants prefer familiar faces over strangers at 4 days old.

• Preference requires multi-modal exposure to specific faces.

• Discrimination of faces from other species declines after 6-9 months.

Perceptual Narrowing

• Expertise in face discrimination develops with experience.

• Type of experience significantly influences ability.

• "Use it or lose it" principle in perceptual development.