ACCELERATING VISUAL COMPLEXITY LEVELS IN THE HUMAN INFANT

Abstract

GREENBERG, DAVID J. Accelerating Visual Complexity Levels in the Human Infant. CHILD DEVELOPMENT, 1971, 42, 905-918. Through use of a singlestimulus technique, 36 infants were tested at 8, 10, and 12 weeks of age to determine fixation times to 3 checkerboard patterns of equal area--a 2 X 2, 8 X 8, and 24 X 24. After the initial test, 12 infants (Grey Square group) received a grey square stabile in their homes for 4 weeks, 12 infants (Simple Pattern group) a 4 X 4 at 8 weeks and a 6 X 6 checkerboard at 10-12 weeks, and 12 infants (Pacer group) a 12 x 12 and then a 16 X 16 pattern. In terms of slope there were significant differences between groups at 10 and 12 weeks. Slope, regarded as an indication of development, was the difference in fixation time between the 8 X 8 and 24 X 24 testing patterns.