Abstract

We measure the minimum dimensions of rectangular gratings and Landolt Cs at which it became possible for observers to determine orientation. The experiment used 677 observers ranging from 4 to 22 years of age. A parallel study was also performed to investigate the effect of background images on recognition of these same stimuli (the Landolt Cs were surrounded by a striped pattern, and the gratings were surrounded by a background of other gratings). The resulting minimum dimensions for each stimulus steadily decreased, reaching adult human recognition levels as the observer approached 11 years of age. All observers noted degradation of stimulus recognition when the background images were in close proximity (the crowding effect). The stimulus-background separation at which stimulus detection began to become degraded decreased until age 12 for Landolt Cs and until age 16 for gratings. The data are discussed for the purposes of considering revisions to high-frequency filter management in ontogenesis. The filters become narrow band and tuned to a higher spatial frequency with increasing observer age.

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