Describe the visual abilities of newborn infants and research methodologies used to study infant vision development.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer:
Newborn infants have limited visual abilities at birth. Their vision is blurry, with an estimated visual acuity of about 20/400, meaning they can only see clearly at very close range (8–12 inches). They can detect light, large shapes, and movement, and prefer high-contrast patterns such as black-and-white. Color vision is also limited but begins developing within the first few months. Depth perception and the ability to focus improve significantly by around 3 to 6 months of age.
Explanation
At birth, a newborn’s visual system is still developing. Their visual acuity is poor—around 20/400—meaning they can see objects clearly only if they are very close. Their eyes are not fully coordinated, so they may appear to wander or not focus well. Despite this, newborns can detect brightness, movement, and large, high-contrast shapes, particularly black-and-white patterns. This is why many infant toys and books use bold, contrasting designs.
Color vision begins to emerge around 1 to 2 months of age, with sensitivity to red, green, and blue hues becoming more refined over time. Depth perception, the ability to judge distances, starts developing around 3 months and becomes more accurate by 6 months, aided by binocular vision—the coordinated use of both eyes.
Researchers use several non-invasive methods to study infant vision development. One common method is the preferential looking technique, where infants are shown two stimuli and researchers observe which one they look at longer. This helps determine what infants can see or distinguish. Another technique is habituation, where a baby is repeatedly shown the same image until they lose interest; when a new image is shown, increased attention indicates they perceive a difference.
Visual evoked potentials (VEP), measured through EEG, are also used to assess how the infant’s brain responds to visual stimuli. Eye-tracking technology can monitor gaze and fixation patterns to study attention and perception in older infants. Through these methods, scientists have been able to chart the rapid progression of visual development in the first year of life.
