Developmental Psychology: Perceptual Development

What is the main problem in terms of "getting" an image for infants?

Eyes don't always converge on one object

What difficulties does a newborn face in moving their eyes?

Eyes...
(1) seem to move independently
(2) hard time making smooth pursuit movements

saccades

(regarding eyes) jumps from one place to another (as opposed to smooth movements)

What difficulties does an infant face in "reading" the image that impacts their eyes?

(1) cones are immature
(2) cones are spaced far apart
(3) eyes catch only 2% of light (adults catch 65%)

A newborn's perception improves if what occurs?

If either he/she or the object moves.

Newborns, color vision

(1) Most researchers believe that they have it.
(2) However, limited by poor contrast sensitivity.

Infants, range of vision (degrees)

120 degrees (adults: 180 degrees)

Stereopsis

merging of image from two eyes

Depth cues, development times

Kinetic: birth-2 months
Binocular: 3-5 months
Monocular: 5-7 months

Trapezoidal window, results & conclusion

5-month-olds reach for either side
7-month-olds reach for larger side: looks closer
So only 7-month-olds can use pictorial cues

When does a fetus respond to sounds?

About 5 months.

Newborns, auditory preferences

(1) higher frequencies
(2) human voices
(3) female voices

Touch, effect on growth of premature infants

More touch -> faster weight gain

Newborns, taste discrimination abilities

Can discriminate different tastes
(1) sweet
(2) bitter
(3) salty

Sense integration, nativist view

Senses are unified

Sense integration, empiricist view

Senses are initially separate

When do senses seem to integrate?

2-3 months

BUT we don't have the research techniques to probe earlier.

At what age is a child's visual acuity comparable to adults'?

6 months

Optimal distance for newborn vision

9 to 15 inches away