Visual discrimination and detection of configurational invariance in 3-month infants

Investigated 40 3-mo-old infants' discrimination of simple visual arrangements of discrete elements, using an operant high-amplitude sucking technique in a stimulus familiarization-novelty paradigm. In Exp I, response recovery was found following changes in the arrangement of 3-dot patterns. To rule out contour density and position as possible cues, Ss were familiarized in Exp II with sets of stimuli varying in size and position but of constant arrangements. Response recovery was found following new arrangements of similar size and position, but Ss failed to recover to the familiarized arrangement presented in novel sizes and positions. Results of Exp III indicate the ability of infants to discriminate changes in size and position similar to the variations received during familiarization in Exp II. Results suggest sensitivity to pattern configuration and the ability to detect pattern invariance. (18 ref)