Infants’ sensitivity to differential luminance as information about depth1

Abstract

To what degree are young infants able to perceive differential shadowing and to what degree are they able to utilize this stimulus parameter as information about depth? Two habituation experiments were performed. In Experiment 1, a group of 5-month-old infants were habituated to a low frequency, vertical, and approximately sinusoidal luminance grating superimposed on a flat colored surface. This display induced stable 3-D perception in adult subjects. After habituation, the infants viewed two test displays at alternating trials. One was made up of real half cylinders matching the light distribution of the habituation display and the other was made up of a square wave grating of the same spatial frequency as in the habituation one. Adults perceived the latter display as flat. Results showed that both test displays were treated as new ones by the infants habituated to the sinusoidal grating. Experiment 2 was identical to Experiment 1, except that the subjects were 3 1/2-month-old. These infants treated the half cylinders as familiar and the square wave grating as new. The results indicate that infants at both age levels (3 1/2 and 5 months of age) were sensitive to the difference between sharp and gradual change in luminance which is a prerequisite for perceiving form from luminance. However, neither age group seemed to utilize gradual change in luminance as information about space.

Infants' Sensitivity to the Depth Cue of Height‐in‐the‐Picture‐Plane

“…Other research with 5-montholds or younger infants have shown some infant sensitivity to various cues, such as line junctions, textural arrangements, shading, and luminance cues, that depict the third dimension for adults. It is unclear, however, whether infants in these studies perceived the third dimension because looking time was used as the dependent measure (Bertin & Bhatt, 2006;Bhatt & Bertin, 2001;Bhatt & Waters, 1998;Kavsek, 1999;Putaansuu & von Hofsten, 1991). For example, Bertin and Bhatt (2006) studied the pop-out effect in which infants viewed two-dimensional drawings of three-dimensional shapes.…”

“…Thus, for most infants, the onset of pictorial depth sensitivity may occur between 22 and 32 weeks and the time table for full emergence may take 2 to 8 weeks. This view of the development of pictorial depth sensitivity is less absolute than previously thought (e.g., Kellman & Arterbeny, 1998, and other researchers have suggested that even younger infants may be sensitive to static information that provides three-dimensional perspective for adults (Bertin & Bhatt, 2006;Bhatt & Bertin, 2001;Bhatt & Waters, 1998;Kavsek, 1999;Putaansuu & von Hofsten, 1991).…”

Infant Perception of Surface Texture and Relative Height as Distance Information: A Preferential‐Reaching Study

“…Several experiments employing habituation–dishabituation methods have supported the conclusion that there is an increase in sensitivity to pictorial depth cues with age (Arterberry et al., 1991; Imura et al., 2006; Kavšek, 1999, 2009; Oross et al., 1987). Other habituation–dishabituation studies, however, suggest that 3‐ to 4‐month‐old infants are capable of perceiving pictorial depth (Bertin & Bhatt, 2006; Bhatt & Bertin, 2001; Bhatt & Waters, 1998; Durand & Lécuyer, 2002; Durand, Lécuyer, & Frichtel, 2003; Imura, Tomonaga, Yamaguchi, & Yagi, 2004; Kavšek, 2003b; Putaansuu & von Hofsten, 1991; Shuwairi, 2009; Shuwairi, Albert, & Johnson, 2007; Yonas, Granrud, Le, & Forsyth, 2007). For example, in a study that explored the “pop‐out” effect, Bertin and Bhatt (2006) found that 3‐month‐olds are sensitive to line junction cues.…”

The Relative Contribution of Relative Height, Linear Perspective, and Texture Gradients to Pictorial Depth Perception in 7-Month-Old Infants

“…While the preferential-reaching method is well suited to investigate infants' perception of distance from pictorial depth cues (see , infants' ability to extract shape, object unity, and type of motion from pictorial depth cues has been explored with the habituation^dishabituation technique (eg Kavs ek 2004;Oross et al 1987;Putaansuu and von Hofsten 1991;Tsuruhara et al 2009). Results from both experimental approaches congruently provide evidence that sensitivity to the 3-D meaning of pictorial depth cues emerges in the middle of the first year.…”