The Development of Model-Driven Perception

Abstract

When in life does the ability to make and utilize visual models develop? Are infants able to use visual models? In my experiment, six-month-olds are presented with different forms of the common “face/vase illusion.” The stimulus used consists of three formats of the illusion that differ in motion. The intention is to prime the infants to see either the face or the vase so that when the stimulus is presented in the ambiguous form, the infants will perceive it as the stimulus he/ she was primed with. For each participant, there are eight sets of five trials each. The first two trials of each set are five seconds long and present the ambiguous stimulus and either the face or vase to establish a base looking time at each. The third trial of each set is the ten second priming phase that presents the face or vase stimulus. The fourth and fifth trials are the same as the first and second were. Comparing looking times from the first and last two trials will allow us to learn more about the ability of six month olds to make and use visual models.