Cortical maturation and the development of visual attention in early infancy

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M H Johnson1

  • 1MRC Cognitive Development Unit, London, England.

Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience
|August 27, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Human infant visual development shifts from subcortical to cortical processing. This paper reanalyzes how primary visual cortex maturation impacts visually guided behavior and oculomotor control in infants.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Ophthalmology

Background:

  • The traditional view posits infant visual development involves a shift from subcortical to cortical processing.
  • Recent findings challenge this, showing advanced newborn perception and multiple cortical visual streams.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To re-evaluate the relationship between cortical pathway maturation and infant visually guided behavior.
  • To investigate the role of the primary visual cortex in oculomotor control development.

Main Methods:

  • Reanalysis of existing evidence on infant visual development.
  • Focus on the maturational state of the primary visual cortex.
  • Examination of neural pathways for oculomotor control.

Main Results:

  • The maturation of the primary visual cortex is a key factor influencing the development of visually guided behavior.
  • The primary visual cortex's state directly constrains oculomotor control pathways.
  • Infant visual abilities are intricately linked to the development of specific cortical visual streams.

Conclusions:

  • Infant visual development is not a simple subcortical-to-cortical shift but involves complex interactions.
  • The primary visual cortex plays a critical role in shaping early visually guided actions and eye movements.
  • Understanding cortical maturation is essential for explaining the emergence of sophisticated visual behaviors in human infants.

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