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Published on: October 5, 2018
The development of visual attention in early infancy: Insights from a free-viewing paradigm
Magdalena Krieber-Tomantschger1, Florian B Pokorny1, Iris Krieber-Tomantschger1
1Research Unit iDN - interdisciplinary Developmental Neuroscience, Division of Phoniatrics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Insights
Infant visual attention develops hierarchically, shifting from external cues to internal control. A new scoring method reliably tracks these developmental changes in early infancy.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Infant Vision Research
Background:
- Visual attention in infants is theorized to develop through a hierarchy of subfunctions.
- Early visual processing is thought to be primarily exogenous, shifting towards endogenous control over time.
Purpose of the Study:
- To track the developmental trajectory of infant visual attention from exogenous to endogenous control.
- To validate a novel scoring scheme for assessing visual attention development in early infancy.
Main Methods:
- A repeated measures study involving 51 infants assessed fortnightly from 4 to 16 weeks postterm.
- Infants were presented with paired comparison stimuli (static and dynamic).
- Visual behavior was systematically evaluated using a newly developed scoring scheme.
Main Results:
- The study confirmed the hypothesized visual developmental hierarchy in infants.
- The novel scoring scheme proved effective in documenting developmental changes in visual attention.
- Both general developmental trends and individual differences were observed.
Conclusions:
- Infant visual attention follows a predictable developmental path, transitioning from exogenous to endogenous control.
- The validated scoring scheme provides a reliable tool for assessing infant visual attention development.
- Repeated measurements are crucial for accurately evaluating developmental changes and individual variations.
Abstract:
Theories of visual attention suggest a cascading development of subfunctions such as alertness, spatial orientation, attention to object features, and endogenous control. Here, we aimed to track infants' visual developmental steps from a primarily exogenously to more endogenously controlled processing style during their first months of life. In this repeated measures study, 51 infants participated in seven fortnightly assessments at postterm ages of 4-16 weeks. Infants were presented with the same set of static and dynamic paired comparison stimuli in each assessment. Visual behavior was evaluated by a newly introduced scoring scheme. Our results confirmed the suggested visual developmental hierarchy and clearly demonstrated the suitability of our scoring scheme for documenting developmental changes in visual attention during early infancy. Besides the general ontogenetic course of development, we also discuss intra- and interindividual differences which may affect single assessments, and highlight the importance of repeated measurements for reliable evaluation of developmental changes.
