ACUITY AND CONTRAST SENSITIVITY IN 1-MONTH-OLD, 2-MONTH-OLD, AND 3-MONTH-OLD HUMAN INFANTS

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 17  (4) , 361-365
Abstract
The importance of assessing infant visual function is indicated by recent demonstrations that early visual experience in part determines the eventual state of adult visual function. The contrast sensitivity function (CSF) could be a valuable index in the assessment of infant vision because it provides information concerning several aspects of vision. CSF were measured in 1, 2 and 3 mo. old infants. The cut-off spatial frequencies, which are estimates of visual acuity, were 2.4 cycles for 1 mo. olds, 2.8 cycles/.degree. for 2 mo. olds, and 4.0 cycles/.degree. for 3 mo. olds. Sensitivity to contrast increased between 1 and 3 mo. of age. The CSF measured also provide evidence for the presence of a low-frequency fall-off at 2 and 3 mo.