The life-span trajectory of visual perception of 3D objects

Erez Freud,Marlene Behrmann

doi:10.1038/s41598-017-11406-7

Erez Freud, Marlene Behrmann

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-11406-7

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Abstract

Deriving a 3D structural representation of an object from its 2D input is one of the great challenges for the visual system and yet, this type of representation is critical for the successful recognition of and interaction with objects. Perhaps reflecting the importance of this computation, infants have some sensitivity to 3D structural information, and this sensitivity is, at least, partially preserved in the elderly population. To map precisely the life-span trajectory of this key visual computation, in a series of experiments, we compared the performance of observers from ages 4 to 86 years on displays of objects that either obey or violate possible 3D structure. The major findings indicate that the ability to derive fine-grained 3D object representations emerges after a prolonged developmental trajectory and is contingent on the explicit processing of depth information even in late childhood. In contrast, the sensitivity to object 3D structure remains stable even through late adulthood despite the overall reduction in perceptual competence. Together, these results uncover the developmental process of an important perceptual skill, revealing that the initial, coarse sensitivity to 3D information is refined, automatized and retained over the lifespan.

Highlights

One of the major challenges confronting the visual system is the need to transform the two-dimensional (2D) retinal information into a precise three-dimensional (3D) representation of the visual input
Whether and when young children are able to represent a 3D shape, which encompasses the detailed description of the object’s planes and axes, and which is engaged automatically in a task-independent fashion[5, 6] as is the case in adulthood, remains to be determined. This particular question has not been addressed previously, empirical evidence that tracks the emergence of mature, complex visual perception reveals that visual computations are immature and evince a slow developmental trajectory: for example, both the ability to integrate contours over spatial distance and the ability to abstract viewpoint-invariant representations of objects are immature in young children, reaching maturity at approximately 14 years of age[7,8,9]
When Reaction Time (RT) was used as the main dependent variable, a similar pattern to the inverse efficiency scores21 (IE) scores analysis was found [Interaction effect: F(1,50) = 2.45, ηp2 = 0.09, p = 0.09] with both old adults [F(1,50) = 9.18, p < 0.05] and young adults [F(1,50) = 8.37, p < 0.05] exhibiting faster RTs for possible objects compared with impossible objects

Summary

Introduction

One of the major challenges confronting the visual system is the need to transform the two-dimensional (2D) retinal information into a precise three-dimensional (3D) representation of the visual input. Whether and when young children are able to represent a 3D shape, which encompasses the detailed description of the object’s planes and axes, and which is engaged automatically in a task-independent fashion[5, 6] as is the case in adulthood, remains to be determined This particular question has not been addressed previously, empirical evidence that tracks the emergence of mature, complex visual perception reveals that visual computations are immature and evince a slow developmental trajectory: for example, both the ability to integrate contours over spatial distance and the ability to abstract viewpoint-invariant representations of objects are immature in young children, reaching maturity at approximately 14 years of age[7,8,9]. The perceptual advantage of possible over impossible objects even when participants are not explicitly required to derive this structural information, indicates that the 3D information is automatically and obligatorily derived[5]

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