Exploring the Visual Sensitivity for Topological Properties in Newborn Infants

NCT01330537 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: DMR100-IRB-019
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 80
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The topological perception theory proposed a precise description for how one organizes the visual world that eliminates the vagueness of subjective phenomenology. In addition, the topological theory challenges the dominant computational view on the part-to-whole hierarchy of visual information processing. Lines of evidence from adult psychophysics, brain imaging data, and even honeybee's behavior have supported the notion that the global topological properties are the very primitives of visual representation. However, the question of how the sensitivity to topological properties originates during development has not been explored much. In a previous study, the investigators found that 2- to 6 month old infants could reliably discriminate stimuli based on topological differences, but failed to do so based on geometric differences. Using familiarization/novelty preference procedure, the present study intends to explore the visual sensitivity for topological properties in newborn infants. Experiment 1 focuses on whether neonates can discriminate a disk (no hole) and a ring (with a hole) that are topologically different, and/or a disk (no hole) and a triangle (no hole) that are geometrically different. Experiment 2 focuses on whether neonates can detect a change in the number of holes and/or the size of the hole. If newborn infants are only sensitive to topological properties and not to geometric properties, this will be a strong proof for the claim that topological property is the very "primitive" visual representation at empirical as well as theoretical level.

Conditions

Visual Sensitivity in Newborns

Keywords

perceptual development; topological perception theory; familiarization/novelty preference method; Discriminate a disk and a ring (topologically different),; Discriminate a disk and a triangle (geometrically different); Detect a change in the number of holes; Detect the size of the hole

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 3 Hours - 14 Days
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)
• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

full-term and healthy newborns

You may qualify if:

• full-term and healthy newborns

You may not qualify if:

• Eye illnesses or other physical problems

Sponsors & Collaborators

• China Medical University Hospital: lead

Study Sites (1)

China Medical University

Taichung, 40402, Taiwan

Location

Study Officials

• Sarina Hui-Lin Chien, PhD

  Graduate Institute of Neural and Cognitive Sciences, China Medical University, Taiwan

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Bai-Horng Su, M.D.

  China Medical University Hospital

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 5, 2011
• First Posted: April 7, 2011
• Study Start: April 1, 2011
• Primary Completion: February 1, 2013
• Study Completion: March 1, 2013
• Last Updated: January 28, 2021

Record last verified: 2021-01

Locations

TW (1)