Age-related dynamics of recognition of the orientation of rectangular gratings upon the resolution limit of the visual system
Semenov, L.A.; Chernova, N.D.; Bondarko, V.M.
Fiziologiia Cheloveka 28(4): 5-12
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 0131-1646 PMID: 12187881 Document Number: 547875
Visual acuity was measured in 215 subjects aged 3 to 20 by determining the minimum size of rectangular grids at which the subjects could distinguish a horizontal grid from a vertical grid. At the same time, the influence of similar background images on the visual acuity was studied. Visual acuity was found to increase with age and reached the level in adults approximately by the age of 11. Identification of grid orientation deteriorated in all subjects when other grids were nearby. The distances at which the deterioration occurred become gradually shorter with age up to age 20, decreasing from 2.75 to 1.5-0.75 periods of test frequency. The ontogenetic development of possible mechanisms responsible for visual acuity and for the ability to distinguish objects from the background is discussed.