Development of Perceptual Grouping Ability after Longer Periods of Post-operative Visual Experience

The adaptability of the human visual system to comprehend complex environmental inputs is remarkable. However, it is unclear whether this ability is innate or develops over time with experience. We have attempted to investigate how individuals with treatable congenital blindness develop perceptual grouping abilities after longer periods of postoperative visual experience. EEG data was collected for 15 participants (6 females) in the age group of 7–20 years (mean age: 15.63 years) by presenting the display with or without a 'structure' (line segment formed by dots) amidst random dots (referred to as `non-structure'). The ERP was analyzed in the occipital regions in the left and right hemispheres for structure and non-structure separately before and after sight onset following a long period of visual deprivation. The results demonstrate the development of the ability to discriminate between structure and non-structure in subjects born with blindness. Furthermore, our findings suggest that long-term postoperative children exhibit neural responses comparable to control subjects, indicating the acquisition of perceptual grouping skills over time. Thus, the findings suggest that perceptual grouping skills may evolve with experience and does not necessarily depend on early visual input, enriching our understanding of visual perception development in individuals with treatable congenital blindness.