When can a toddler recognize an optical illusion?

We know that all human beings are able to detect what we usually call an optical illusion (it’s a feature of our brains trying to reconcile illogical forms with what the brain is wired for). However, there was a good question left open: Can a baby see an optical illusion?

Escher cube
Escher cube

A team led by Sarah Shuwairi showed images of optical illusions similar to the one here. By hiding parts critical to the understanding of the illusion in some images and showing the full optical illusion in some other images, they determined that 10-month old babies (and 4-month toddlers) are able to distinguish the illusion from the “normal” image.

Source: ScienceBlogs.