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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 5, 2026

A Gaze-Contingent Display Framework for Perceptual Learning Research with Simulated Central Vision Loss

A Gaze-Contingent Display Framework for Perceptual Learning Research with Simulated Central Vision Loss

Published on: April 11, 2025

Subitizing in congenitally blind adults.

Ludovic Ferrand¹, Kevin J Riggs, Julie Castronovo

¹University Blaise Pascal, Clermont-Ferrand, France. ludovic.ferrand@univ-bpclermont.fr

Psychonomic Bulletin & Review

|December 21, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Vision is not essential for developing subitizing, the ability to quickly perceive small quantities. Blind individuals perform similarly to sighted individuals in subitizing tasks, indicating it

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Area of Science:

Cognitive psychology
Neuroscience
Sensory perception

Background:

Subitizing, the rapid perception of small numbers, is a fundamental cognitive ability.
The role of vision in developing and utilizing subitizing remains debated.
Investigating tactile enumeration in blind individuals can elucidate the necessity of vision for subitizing.

Purpose of the Study:

To determine if vision is necessary for the development of the subitizing mechanism.
To compare tactile enumeration performance in congenitally blind and sighted participants.
To examine the influence of visual input on subitizing and non-subitizing numerical ranges.

Main Methods:

Participants included congenitally blind individuals and sighted individuals (both blindfolded and with normal vision).
Tactile enumeration of stimulated fingers (1-9) was assessed for speed and accuracy.
Performance was compared across visual conditions and numerical ranges (subitizing vs. non-subitizing).

Main Results:

All groups accurately enumerated 1-3 fingers quickly (subitizing range).
Performance significantly decreased in speed and accuracy for 4-9 fingers (non-subitizing range) across all groups.
Congenitally blind participants performed comparably to sighted participants within the subitizing range.
Outside the subitizing range, blind and sighted-seeing participants outperformed sighted-blindfolded participants.

Conclusions:

Subitizing is a general perceptual mechanism not dependent on vision for its development.
Tactile enumeration abilities within the subitizing range are preserved in individuals with congenital blindness.
Lack of visual input impacts performance outside the subitizing range, suggesting vision aids in non-subitizing numerical processing.