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Published on: October 24, 2019
Effects of early visual deprivation on face detection in premature newborns
Valeria Azevedo de Almeida1, Alessandra Geraci2, Fabricio Lima Brasil3
1Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
Insights
Preterm infants show an initial preference for face-like patterns. However, temporary visual deprivation from phototherapy can decrease this preference in preterm infants, highlighting the role of visual experience.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Neonatal Studies
- Visual Neuroscience
Background:
- Preterm infants may have innate predispositions to visual stimuli.
- Limited visual exposure in early life can impact developmental trajectories.
- Phototherapy for hyperbilirubinemia can cause temporary visual deprivation in neonates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if preterm infants have a predisposition to follow face-like patterns.
- To investigate the effects of temporary visual deprivation (phototherapy) on face preference in preterm infants.
- To explore the role of visual experience in mediating face preferences.
Main Methods:
- A visual tracking paradigm was used to compare preterm infants' orienting responses to face-like and scrambled stimuli.
- Two groups of preterm infants were studied: an experimental group undergoing phototherapy and a control group without phototherapy.
- Infants were assessed at 7 and 14 days of life, capturing data before and after phototherapy for the experimental group.
Main Results:
- Both preterm infant groups exhibited a preference for face-like stimuli at 7 days of life.
- The experimental group showed a decreased preference for face-like stimuli by 14 days of life.
- This reduction in preference is potentially linked to reduced visual face experience during phototherapy.
Conclusions:
- Preterm infants possess an initial preference for face-like patterns.
- Visual experience plays a crucial role in maintaining and potentially shaping face preferences in early development.
- Temporary visual deprivation, such as that from phototherapy, can impact the development of face perception in preterm infants.
Abstract:
This study examined whether preterm infants possess a predisposition to follow face-like patterns and investigated the potential consequences of limited visual exposure to faces during the first weeks of life in preterm infants who experienced temporary visual deprivation due to phototherapy. The orienting responses (i.e., eyes and head movements toward two types of stimuli [face-like vs. scrambled]) of preterm infants were compared using a visual tracking paradigm. They were divided into two groups: preterm infants who underwent phototherapy for hyperbilirubinemia (experimental group) were compared with those who did not receive phototherapy and had no hyperbilirubinemia (control group). Both groups were assessed at 7 and 14 days of life (i.e., before and after phototherapy for the experimental group). Results demonstrated that both groups presented a preference for face-like stimuli at 7 days of life, which decreased in the experimental group at 14 days. This decrease may be due to the lack of visual experience with faces from wearing safety glasses during phototherapy. The findings supported theoretical views on how visual experiences mediate changes in face preferences.
