Late Maturation of Visual Hyperacuity

Abstract

We used a visual evoked-potential measure to study the development of two components of pattern vision, vernier acuity and grating acuity, in humans from early infancy through adolescence. These two visual functions develop at similar rates and have nearly the same absolute values between 1 month and 6 years of age. After age 6, grating acuity is constant at the adult level, but vernier acuity continues to improve, becoming a hyperacuity. Vernier acuity reaches asymptotic levels around age 14 years. These results suggest that adultlike vernier hyperacuity is not limited by spatial resolution or sensitivity of small receptive fields, but rather that the limitation is imposed by higher-level processing. Sensitivity, connections in visual cortical areas, or both therefore retain plasticity throughout childhood and into adolescence.