Configurational selectivities: Critical for development of visual perception and attention

Argues that the most distinctive and highly developed characteristics of human visual perception lie in the ability to discriminate and extract information from configurationally complex displays. This ability is manifested early in life. Previous data on neonates and a new experiment with somewhat older infants are described that used the preferential looking technique. These experiments demonstrated a clear progression from preference for simple patterns and highly contrasting elements to more subtle variations in contrast and configuration in the 1st 5 mo of life. (French abstract) (24 ref)