Visual behaviour in the newborn baby

Abstract

The corneal reflection technique, used, both with adults and newborn babies, was investigated. Previous researchers have assumed that the centre of the pupil represents the line of sight. It is shown, both experimentally and t theoretically, that this assumption is mistaken, and that optical divergence of the eyes does not imply an inability by newborn babies to fixate binocularly. Binocular fixation by the newborn was demonstrated, both to stimuli presented at different distances from the eyes, and to different types of stimuli. Although instances were found in which newborns were not converging, it is concluded that normal newborn babies have the ability to fixate binocularly, and that they, will demonstrate his ability when an appropriate stimulus is presented.