Abstract
Previous studies have shown that by age 5-8 years, the lateral occipital complex (LOC) shows adult-like responses when contrasting images of objects versus scrambled objects. Here, we selected complex novel shapes and manipulated both size and viewpoint of these shapes in an adaptation paradigm to assess the neural profile in LOC in children (5-10 years), adolescents (11-16 years), and adults (18-27 years). Observers were shown blocks in which the same object was shown repeatedly, the same object was shown in different sizes/views, or different objects were shown.Hidden formatting deleted. Delete this text! yes"> The results showed that all 3 age groups demonstrated size-invariance, showing a reduced neural response to the same-object-same-size condition and the same-object-different-sizes conditions. However, only adults showed evidence of view-invariance. Adolescents and children showed a similar neural response to the same object different views condition and the different objects condition.Hidden formatting deleted. Delete this text! yes"> The results suggest that size-invariance develops early but the neural mechanisms underlying view-invariant object recognition is not yet mature even in adolescents.
Meeting abstract presented at VSS 2013