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

Nardini, M; Braddick, O; Atkinson, J; Cowie, DA; Ahmed, T; Reidy, H

Abstract

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 & Spelke, 1994), may represent a general phenomenon, likened to uneven integration between the dorsal and ventral streams in early development.

Citation

Nardini, M., Braddick, O., Atkinson, J., Cowie, D., Ahmed, T., & Reidy, H. (2008). Uneven integration for perception and action cues in children’s working memory. Cognitive Neuropsychology, 25(7-8), 968-984. https://doi.org/10.1080/02643290701866028

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Dec 1, 2008
• Deposit Date: Oct 1, 2013
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 12, 2015
• Journal: Cognitive Neuropsychology
• Print ISSN: 0264-3294
• Electronic ISSN: 1464-0627
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 25
• Issue: 7-8
• Pages: 968-984
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02643290701866028
• Keywords: Dorsal stream, Ventral stream, Development, Search, Colour, Texture.