Newborn visual attention to repeated exposure of redundant vs "novel" targets

Abstract

This study was designed to test the proposition that habituation in the newborn human is specific to repetition of a single impinging stimulus. Using a group (3) by sex (2) by trials (8) repeated measures factorial design, 120 newborn infants were repeatedly presented with a single visual target (2 × 2 or 12 × 12 black and white checkerboard) or exposed to a series of different targets, and the infants' visual fixation time was measured. Infants exposed to the multiple target series had a significantly greater mean visual fixation time than did infants repeatedly presented with a single target. However, all groups of infants displayed response decrement in fixation time with repeated target exposure. In addition, infants receiving the multiple target series displayed differential visual fixation to the stimuli, with, in general, targets of greater redundancy (Le., those having a higher degree of spatial repetition and duplication of elements) being most "preferred." These results suggest that young human infants are receptive and responsive to stimulus change in the immediate visual environment. © 1972 Psychonomic Society.