This proposal deals with the development of the ability to perceive the shapes of objects and their layout in space. Sensitivity to one class of spatial information, the static-monocular or pictorial depth cues, appears to develop at a later age than sensitivity to kinetic or binocular depth cues. A long-term goal is to use developmental studies to understand how the human visual system extracts three-dimensional layouts from static-monocular information. The pattern of development of responsiveness to these cues may reveal how the mechanism that detect this information are related. If the onset of responsiveness to several cues occurs in a simultaneous rather than in a staggered fashion, this would suggest that the development of a common mechanism is responsible. The role of maturation and experience in the development of sensitivity to pictorial cues will be studied by contrasting the responsiveness of preterm and postterm infants. In addition, the hypothesis that the spatial meaning of pictorial cues is learning through association with binocular information will be examined by studying the development of sensitivity to pictorial information in infants who lack binocular depth sensitivity. Two methods for assessing spatial sensitivity will be used in the proposed studies. One method will measure the accuracy of reaching to the closer of two objects. The second measure will use recovery from habituation of looking to assess whether infants perceive the spatial layout specified by a pictorial display.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HD016924-04
Application #
3314052
Study Section
Human Development and Aging Subcommittee 1 (HUD)
Project Start
1983-04-01
Project End
1987-08-31
Budget Start
1986-09-01
Budget End
1987-08-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
1986
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Department
Type
Schools of Education
DUNS #
168559177
City
Minneapolis
State
MN
Country
United States
Zip Code
55455
Yonas, A; Hartman, B (1993) Perceiving the affordance of contact in four- and five-month-old infants. Child Dev 64:298-308
Craton, L G; Yonas, A (1990) Kinetic occlusion: further studies of the boundary-flow cue. Percept Psychophys 47:169-79
Arterberry, M E; Yonas, A (1988) Infants' sensitivity to kinetic information for three-dimensional object shape. Percept Psychophys 44:1-6
Craton, L G; Yonas, A (1988) Infants' sensitivity to boundary flow information for depth at an edge. Child Dev 59:1522-9
Yonas, A; Arterberry, M E; Granrud, C E (1987) Four-month-old infants' sensitivity to binocular and kinetic information for three-dimensional-object shape. Child Dev 58:910-7
Yonas, A; Craton, L G; Thompson, W B (1987) Relative motion: kinetic information for the order of depth at an edge. Percept Psychophys 41:53-9
Granrud, C E; Haake, R J; Yonas, A (1985) Infants' sensitivity to familiar size: the effect of memory on spatial perception. Percept Psychophys 37:459-66
Granrud, C E; Yonas, A; Opland, E A (1985) Infants' sensitivity to the depth cue of shading. Percept Psychophys 37:415-9