Development of Perception Psychobiological Perspectives

Development of Perception: Psychobiological Perspectives, Volume 1, Audition, Somatic Perception, and the Chemical Senses, is the first of a two-part series covering vision, audition, olfaction, taste, tactile sensitivity, and sensory-motor activity during ontogenesis. The focus is on approaches to perceptual development that incorporate a psychobiological perspective. The present volume contains both overviews and specific discussions of audition, somatic perception, and the chemical senses aimed at the anatomical, neurophysiological, and behavioral levels. The book is organized into four parts. Parts A and B are devoted to aspects of auditory perceptual development in animals and humans, respectively. These include studies on the development of species-specificity in duckling auditory perception; the functional role of auditory perception in parent-offspring recognition in birds; the development of auditory localization in human infants; and experiential components in the development of speech perception. Part C covers issues of somatosensory and sensorimotor development, including pioneering studies of development and plasticity in the neural structures of specialized somatosensory areas. Part D contains chapters on the development of olfaction and taste.

ContributorsGeneral PrefacePrefaceContents of Volume 2Part A Animal Studies of Auditory Development 1 Roles of Early Experience in Species-Specific Perceptual Development I. Introduction II. Early Development of Species Identification in Precocial Avian Species III. Roles of Experience IV. Summary and Conclusions References 2 Development of Parent-Offspring Recognition in Birds I. Introduction II. Parent-Offspring Recognition in Bank Swallows III. Theoretical Aspects of Parent-Offspring Recognition References 3 Perception of Acoustic Communication Signals by Animals: Developmental Perspectives and Implications I. Introduction II. The Development of Avian Acoustic Communication III. The Development of Primate Vocal Communication IV. Vocal Perception in Japanese Monkeys: A Case Study V. Summary References 4 Neurophysiological and Anatomical Aspects of Auditory Development I. Introduction II. Peripheral Development III. Central Development IV. Experiential Effects on Anatomy and Function V. Summary and Conclusions: Future Directions ReferencesPart B Audition and Speech Perception in Human Infants 5 Developmental Changes in Auditory Localization in Infancy I. Introduction II. Developmental Studies of Auditory Localization in Infants III. Conclusions References 6 Sensorimotor Aspects of Speech Development I. Obstacles to Speech Development in the Neonate II. Sensorimotor Factors III. Schema Theory Applied to Speech Development IV. Motor Programs for Speech: Their Nature and Content V. Summary References 7 The Processing of Speech and Nonspeech Sounds by Infants: Some Implications I. Early Evidence Favoring a Specialized Speech Mode II. Evidence for a Speech Mode in Infants III. Another Look at the Evidence for a Speech-Nonspeech Distinction IV. Evaluating the Evidence: One Possible Interpretation of Infant Speech Perception V. Some Potential Pitfalls for a Psychophysical Account of Infant Speech Perception VI. Conclusions References 8 The Role of Early Experience in the Development of Speech Perception I. Introduction II. Background III. Role of Early Experience in Perceptual Development IV. Summary and Conclusions ReferencesPart C Somatosensory and Sensorimotor Development 9 Somatosensory Development I. Introduction II. Organization of the Somatosensory Pathway III. Normal Development of the Vibrissal System IV. Experimental Alterations of the Vibrissal Pathway V. Some Details in the Cortex VI. Genetic Control VII. Environmental Considerations VIII. Commentary References 10 Sensorimotor Development I. Introduction II. The Action Stream III. Sensorimotor Controls IV. Genetic Predispositions and Experience V. Conclusions ReferencesPart D Development of the Chemical Senses 11 Ontogeny of Olfaction: Reciprocal Roles of Sensation and Behavior in the Development of Perception I. Introduction II. Roles of Olfaction in Early Life III. Development of Sensory-Perceptual Function IV. Means and Ends in Olfactory Development V. Routes to Behavioral Specificity VI. Summary and Concluding Remarks References 12 Olfactory Control over Suckling in Albino Rats I. Introduction II. Paradigm for Analyses of Olfactory Control over Behavior III. Suckling IV. Summary References 13 Some Speculations concerning Neurological Mechanisms for Early Olfactory Recognition I.