Crowding changes appearance systematically in peripheral, amblyopic, and developing vision

• DOI: 10.1167/jov.22.6.3
• Publication Date: 2022-05-04T14:31:24Z
• Authors: Alexandra V. Kalp...; Vijay K. Tailor; Annegret H. Dahlm...; John A. Greenwood
• Keywords: Crowding; Peripheral vision

Visual crowding is the disruptive effect of clutter on object recognition. Although most prominent in adult peripheral vision, also disrupts foveal vision typically developing children and those with strabismic amblyopia. Do these effects share same mechanism? Here we exploit observations that crowded errors are not random: Target objects appear either averaged flankers (assimilation) or replaced by them (substitution). If amblyopic developmental mechanism, then their should be similarly systematic. We tested aged 3 to 8 years typical amblyopia adults. The perceptual were measured requiring observers adjust a reference stimulus match perceived orientation target “Vac-Man” element. When was surrounded differed ± 30°, all three groups (adults vision) reported orientations between (assimilation). Errors reduced 90° differences but primarily matched flanker (substitution) when they did occur. A population pooling model successfully simulated this pattern groups. conclude systematic resemble near periphery adults, suggesting common underlying mechanism.