Visual pattern detection in preterm neonates

• Published in: Infant behavior & development 1985, Vol.8 (1), p.47-63
• Main Authors: Shepherd, Patricia Ann, Fagan, oseph F., Kleiner, Kathleen A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Child development; contrast sensitivity; Developmental psychology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; pattern detection; preterm neonates; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; visual acuity
• ISSN: 0163-6383; 1879-0453
• DOI: 10.1016/S0163-6383(85)80016-3

The purpose of the present study was to test the ability of preterm neonates to resolve square-wave gratings varying in spatial frequency, contrast, and orientation. The sample included 184 infants born prematurely at an average of 34 weeks, 6 days who were tested at a mean postconceptional age of 37 weeks, 4 days. The preferential looking procedure was employed for testing the neonates' resolution of the gratings. Spatial frequencies included.06,.11,.23,.46,.92, 1.85, 3.69, and 7.38 cycles/degree. Contrasts were 66%, 38%, 22%, 17%, and 13%. The major results were that detection of the gratings varied as a function of contrast and spatial frequency. Higher spatial frequencies required more contrast to be resolved and, on an absolute basis, the infants were able to detect spatial frequencies as high as.92 to 1.02 c/deg and contrast as low as 13%. Horizontal and vertical gratings did not differ in detectability. In general, the present results indicate much more refined pattern-detection capacities in the preterm neonate than has previously been demonstrated.