title: A window on the normal development of sensitivity to global form in Glass patterns.
abstract: We studied the development of sensitivity to global form in 6-year-olds, 9-year-olds, and adults (n = 24 in each group) using Glass patterns with varying ratios of paired signal dots to noise dots. The developmental pattern was similar whether the global structure within the Glass patterns was concentric or parallel. Thresholds were equally immature for both types of pattern at 6 years of age (about twice the adult value) but were adult-like at 9 years of age. Together, the results indicate that the cortical structures involved in the processing of global form achieve functional maturity between 6 and 9 years of age. During middle childhood, the mechanisms mediating sensitivity to concentric structure develop at the same rate as those mediating sensitivity to parallel structure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada. LewisTL@mcmaster.ca
authors.forename: Terri L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Dave
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ellemberg
authors.forename: Daphne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maurer
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dirks
authors.forename: Fran
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.forename: Hugh R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D012684:Sensory Thresholds