Rhythmic visual stimulation as a window into early brain development

Author(s)
Moritz Köster, Alicja Brzozowska, Anna Andrea Bánki, Markus Tünte, Emma Kate Ward, Stefanie Hoehl
Abstract

Rhythmic visual stimulation (RVS), the periodic presentation of visual stimuli to elicit a rhythmic brain response, is increasingly applied to reveal insights into early neurocognitive development. Our systematic review identified 69 studies applying RVS in 0- to 6-year-olds. RVS has long been used to study the development of the visual system and applications have more recently been expanded to uncover higher cognitive functions in the developing brain, including overt and covert attention, face and object perception, numeral cognition, and predictive processing. These insights are owed to the unique benefits of RVS, such as the targeted frequency and stimulus-specific neural responses, as well as a remarkable signal-to-noise ratio. Yet, neural mechanisms underlying the RVS response are still poorly understood. We discuss critical challenges and avenues for future research, and the unique potentials the method holds. With this review, we provide a resource for researchers interested in the breadth of developmental RVS research and hope to inspire the future use of this cutting-edge method in developmental cognitive neuroscience.

Organisation(s)
Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology
External organisation(s)
University of London, University Hospital Regensburg
Journal
Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience
Volume
64
ISSN
1878-9293
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dcn.2023.101315
Publication date
2023
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
301401 Brain research, 501005 Developmental psychology
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Cognitive Neuroscience
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/b8c44ff6-0583-48b1-b429-fbccd6e3a7d8