Uneven integration for perception and action cues in children's working memory.

Journal article

We examined the development of visual cue integration in a desktop working-memory task using boxes with different visual action cues (opening actions) and perceptual surface cues (colours, monochromatic textures, or images of faces). Children had to recall which box held a hidden toy, based on (a) the action cue, (b) the surface cue, or (c) a conjunction of the two. Results from three experiments show a set of asymmetries in children's integration of action and surface cues. The 18-24-month-olds disregarded colour in conjunction judgements with action; 30-36-month-olds used colour but disregarded texture. Images of faces were not disregarded at either age. We suggest that 18-24-month-olds' disregard of colour, seen previously in reorientation tasks (Hermer and Spelke, 1994), may represent a general phenomenon, likened to uneven integration between the dorsal and ventral streams in early development.

Authors: Nardini, M; Braddick, O; Atkinson, J; Cowie, D; Ahmed, T

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Cognitive neuropsychology
• Volume: 25
• Issue: 7-8
• Pages: 968-984
• Publication date: 2008-01-01
• DOI: 10.1080/02643290701866028
• EISSN: 1464-0627
• ISSN: 0264-3294
• Language: English
• Keywords: Memory, Short-Term; Judgment; Visual Pathways; Child Development; Visual Perception; Discrimination Learning; Neuropsychological Tests; Age Factors; Reminder Systems; Female; Male; Cues; Analysis of Variance; Humans; Child, Preschool; Cognition; Infant