The Developing Visual Brain

One of the most dramatic areas of development in early human life is that of vision. Whereas vision plays a relatively minor role in the world of the newborn infant, by six months it has assumed the position as a dominant sense and forms the basis of later perceptual, cognitive, and social development.

From a world leader in the study of visual development in human infants comes a major new book, condensing a lifetime of work in this area. Drawing on over 20 years of cutting edge research in the Visual Development Units in Cambridge and University College, London, this book provides the definitive account of what we know about the developing visual system and the problems that can occur during development. The book reviews, evaluates, and sets in context the exciting progress being made in this area, and additionally suggests new areas for research. Written to be accessible to advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and researchers in psychology, the neurosciences, optometry, and visual science, this volume represents an important new addition to the literature on vision.


Enthusiasm, boundless energy, breadth and depth of knowledge, creativity of ideas, and enormous scientific productivity-these are characteristics that come to mind when one thinks of Janette Atkinson. These characteristics are also descriptive of Atkinson's new book, The Developing Visual Brain . . . The book is a unique piece of work . . . I would definitely recommend it to individuals interested in the visual development of human infants. -Perception