NEURAL PROCESSES OF PATTERN VISION IN HUMAN INFANTS

描述：（改编自申请人的摘要）：本项目的目标是 来加深我们对视觉模式敏感性发展的理解 在人类婴儿身上。许多复杂的线索可用于判断空间 在视觉图案元素中的位置;这些线索包括方向、亮度 对比度、时间频率和空间频率。拟议的实验 旨在确定敏感机制的相对贡献， 这些不同的信息来源对婴儿的位置敏感性。的 实验将使用一个改进的版本，建立视觉诱发 电位（VEP）技术，以及最广泛使用的位置测试 灵敏度，游标敏锐度。 该项目将解决以下问题： (1)在游标敏锐度中，时空机制的作用是什么 发展？(2)游标和光栅的敏锐度是否受到不同 机制？(3)游标中的方向敏感滤光片有什么作用 在发展过程中，？ 每个实验都将测量 婴儿在发育过程中的VEP游标反应，并将其与成人的VEP游标反应进行比较。 响应，以确定游标响应不成熟的性质。 超出 分析婴儿游标敏锐度的机制，该项目将有 具有潜在的临床诊断价值。 游标敏锐度是一个更敏感的 比光栅敏锐度更高的指示器。 具体地说， 在Snellen中游标视力比光栅视力显著更可靠 （字母表）成人弱视的视力。游标敏锐度也是有选择性的 在婴儿和儿童皮质性视觉障碍中受损。 拟议 游标敏锐度发展的实验将提供实质性的规范 为有弱视或皮质性弱视风险的婴儿设计新视力测试的数据 视力障碍。

DESCRIPTION: (Adapted from applicant's abstract): The goal of this project is to advance our understanding of the development of visual pattern sensitivity in human infants. Numerous and complex cues are available to judge spatial position in visual pattern elements; these cues include orientation, luminance contrast, temporal frequency, and spatial frequency. The proposed experiments are designed to determine the relative contributions of mechanisms sensitive to these different sources of information to infants' position sensitivity. The experiments will use an improved version of an established visual evoked potential (VEP) technique, and the most widely used test of position sensitivity, vernier acuity. The project will address the following questions: (1) What are the roles of spatiotemporal mechanisms in vernier acuity development? (2) Are vernier and grating acuity limited by different mechanisms? (3) What are the roles of orientation-sensitive filters in vernier acuity during development? Each experiment will measure different aspects of infants' VEP vernier responses during development, and compare these to adults' responses to determine the nature of the vernier response immaturity. Beyond analyzing the mechanisms of infant vernier acuity, the project will have potential value for clinical diagnosis. Vernier acuity is a more sensitive indicator than grating acuity of vision loss due to ambylopia. Specifically, vernier acuity is significantly more reliable than grating acuity in Snellen (letter chart) acuity in adult amblyopes. Vernier acuity is also selectively damaged in infants and children with cortical visual impairment. The proposed experiments on vernier acuity development will provide substantial normative data for designing new vision tests for infants at risk for amblyopia or cortical visual impairment.