Date: Course: Student Name: Personal Identifier: Assignment Number:

25th February 2006 ED209 Child Development R. I. Houlding T3850769 TMA 01 Option 2

How do psychologists investigate infants perception of the world around them? What do such studies reveal about infants psychological development? For the growing embryo, the process of perceptual development begins around the 6th month. According to (Oates, Wood and Grayson, 2005, p. 113), the newborns auditory system is already functioning at a sophisticated level. This essay will briefly look at the developmental process of perception by examining some of the meticulous and comprehensive research methods employed to uncover the sensory universe of the neonate. Early methods of research will be compared to innovative techniques that offer new insights into the perceptual world of the newborn. This narrative will travel from prenatal to early infancy, as perception gradually expands and awakens. What is perception? Brief overview of perceptual development and skills Identify aspects of perceptual development DO A TIMELINE

Upon arrival, the newborn is fully equipped to build all sensory systems to completion, barring any physical or psychological deviations. The visual system can really be seen as an extension of the brain, given the multiple layers of complex processing networks light must actually pass through the processing network before reaching the rods and cones which are sensitive to light (rods sense low light levels in black and white, cones sense colour and detail). The electrochemical relay race then passes the signal back up through the network within the cell walls of the retina where it will eventually reach the optical nerve branch and speed away to the visual cortex (Oates, Wood and Grayson, 2005, p. 97). Each system matures at a separate rate, with the optic nerve reaching conductive maturity around 3 months (Yakovlev and Lecours, 1967, p. 98). In contrast, the auditory nerve, according to (Oates, Wood and Grayson, 2005, p. 113), arrives with around 30,000 nerve fibres fully myelinated. Similar to the visual cortex, the neurons of the auditory cortex (Heschls gyrus) are still relatively isolated with few interconnections (Oates, Wood and Grayson, 2005, p. 112-113). As cell growth continues and electro-chemical signals traverse new connections, somehow elements of perception are , information taken in through the senses gives awareness of the environment or self, e.g. perception of colour is through the reflection of light, although to the newborn this image may be lacking colour intensity (Hainline, 1998, p. 97). In a developmental contest, vision is far less advanced than the infants ability to perceive and discriminate sound. According to (Oates, Wood and Grayson, 2005, p. 113), the newborn arrives with auditory nerve fibres fully myelinated in contrast to the optic nerve fibres reaching conductive maturity around 3 months (Yakovlev and Lecours, 1967, p. 98). Perception continues

Issues I want to raise Research studies of infants perception could possibly reveal That its happening before theyre even born? That infants perceptual skills are much more advanced and sophisticated than earlier clinical research suggested?

That infants perceptual skills are better tested in a dynamic, flexible, changing environment utilising multi-sensory stimuli? Maybe it suggests that actually, even being born with 100 billion neurons the human infant is as fragile as a house of cards, and almost entirely incapable of survival without 24hr protection and food provision for several years after birth.

In the 1950s, Robert L. Fantz, designed an innovative apparatus to measure infants viewing habits. Fantz tested infants from 10 hours to 5 days old and discovered a pre-formed preference for patterns over plain coloured surfaces. Later experiments in 1963, with 2-3 month olds also showed a pre-disposition for socially relevant images, where Fantz used 6 stimuli, one of which a black and white schematic face. The results overwhelmingly favoured the schematic face as a preferred visual stimuli for the infants. I shall include the specific elements of visual, auditory, cross-modal and multi-sensory perception. I shall briefly explore some of the research methods psychologists have employed, and the efficacy of such methods within the context of early childhood perceptual development. The infant will be referenced within the chordata of developing life, and revelations are unveiled as individual and collective intellectual forces seek out and push the knowledge boundaries of child development.

Key areas of research Development of Visual system and perceptual skills Development of Auditory and speech systems and perceptual skills Development of Cross-modal system and perceptual skills