Perception of #TheDress in childhood is influenced by age and green-leaf preference

The perception of the ambiguous image of #TheDress may be influenced by optical factors, such as macular pigments. Their accumulation during childhood could increase with age and the ingestion of carotenoidcontaining foods. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the visual perception of the dress in children would differ based on age and carotenoid preference. This was a cross-sectional, observational, and comparative study. A poll was administered to children aged 2 to 10 years. Parents were instructed to inquire about the color of #TheDress from their children. A carotenoid preference survey was also completed. A total of 413 poll responses were analyzed. Responses were categorized based on the perceived color of the dress: blue/black (BB) (n n = 204) and white/gold (WG) (n n = 209). The mean and median age of the WG group was higher than the BB group (mean 6.1, median 6.0 years, standard deviation [SD] SD ] 2.2; mean 5.5, median 5.0 years, SD 2.3; p = 0.007). Spearman correlation between age and group was 0.133 (p p = 0.007). Green-leaf preference (GLP) showed a statistically significant difference between groups (Mann-Whitney U : p = 0.038). Spearman correlation between GLP and group was 0.102 (p p = 0.037). Logistic regression for the perception of the dress as WG indicated that age and GLP were significant predictors (age: B weight 0.109, p = 0.012, odds ratio: 1.115; GLP: B weight 0.317, p = 0.033, odds ratio: 1.373). Older children and those with a higher GLP were more likely to perceive #TheDress as WG. These results suggest a potential relationship with the gradual accumulation of macular pigments throughout a child's lifetime.