Visual perception is highly flexible and context-dependent in young infants: A case of top-down modulated motion perception

Top-down modulation is an essential cognitive component in human perception. Despite mounting evidence of top-down perceptual modulation in adults, it is largely unknown whether infants can engage in this cognitive function. Here, we examined top-down modulation of motion perception in six- to eight-month-old infants via their smooth pursuit eye movements. With four experiments, we demonstrated that infants’ perception of motion direction can …