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Perception of object shape and texture in human newborns: evidence from cross‐modal transfer tasks
Author(s) -
Sann Coralie,
Streri Arlette
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
developmental science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.801
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1467-7687
pISSN - 1363-755X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-7687.2007.00593.x
Subject(s) - perception , texture (cosmology) , psychology , modal , object (grammar) , communication , visual perception , contrast (vision) , cognitive psychology , computer vision , artificial intelligence , transfer (computing) , computer science , image (mathematics) , neuroscience , chemistry , polymer chemistry , parallel computing
The present research investigates newborn infants’ perceptions of the shape and texture of objects through studies of the bi‐directionality of cross‐modal transfer between vision and touch. Using an intersensory procedure, four experiments were performed in newborns to study their ability to transfer shape and texture information from vision to touch and from touch to vision. The results showed that cross‐modal transfer of shape is not bi‐directional at birth. Newborns visually recognized a shape previously held but they failed to tactually recognize a shape previously seen. In contrast, a bi‐directional cross‐modal transfer of texture was observed. Taken together, the results suggest that newborn infants, like older children and adults, gather information differently in the visual and tactile modes, for different object properties. The findings provide evidence for continuity in the development of mechanisms for perceiving object properties.