Cognitive associations of bimanual haptico-visual recognition in preschoolers.
We have investigated the relation between haptico-visual recognition of objects and cognitive tasks in two large samples of preschoolers (n = 534; n = 750). Children aged 6 years completed a cross-modal task in which they have first to haptically explore an object and second to visually recognize it; they also performed phonological, verbal semantic, and visual tasks. For two consecutive years, bimanual haptico-visual recognition was significantly correlated to performance at all the cognitive tasks. The meaning of this relationship is discussed. The study supports the view that haptico-visual recognition tasks should be used as screening tools for early identification of children at risk of learning difficulties.
Giannopulu
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I
Inserm U 780, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Villejuif, France. irini.giannopulu@inrets.fr
Cusin
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F
Escolano
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S
Dellatolas
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G
D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D046709:Pattern Recognition, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology; D010700:Phonetics; D012660:Semantics; D013236:Stereognosis / Q000502:physiology; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014705:Verbal Behavior / Q000502:physiology