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Babies notice things that elude adults.

11.07.2023

We can usually recognize an object even if it flashes before us for a short time. However, if another object appears immediately after the first one, the perception of the first object suffers and we stop noticing its presence.

This phenomenon of visual perception is called "reverse masking". In science, it is used to study how the brain processes visual signals. Interestingly, this phenomenon occurs even in cases where the second object does not spatially overlap the first one, but is represented, for example, by a contour or by four points surrounding the object.

It is assumed that the occurrence of this phenomenon is associated with a violation of the "feedback mechanisms". The visual information we see is processed sequentially in the brain from lower to upper visual areas. However, feedback also plays an important role in visual perception, when visual signals are transmitted from the upper regions of the brain to the lower ones. It is believed that backmasking occurs due to disturbances in feedback processing.

The scientists applied the reverse masking technique to infants between the ages of 3 and 8 months to study the development of feedback mechanisms.

To test for backward masking in infants, the researchers showed them images of faces on a computer screen and measured the time the children paid attention to them. This step turned out to be fairly easy, as babies tend to look at faces longer.

The face images were presented in two ways: in one case, the mask image followed the face, and in the other case, nothing appeared after the face.

The researchers found that children aged 7-8 months could not distinguish between faces followed by a mask. This indicates that they, like adults, experience the reverse masking effect.

However, children aged 3-6 months were able to perceive faces even when they were followed by a mask. That is, reverse masking did not occur, and infants could see faces that are invisible to older children.

These results suggest that feedback mechanisms are immature in infants under 7 months of age. The study showed that the processes of visual perception change significantly in the second half of the first year of life.

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