Comment on "Infants' perseverative search errors are induced by pragmatic misinterpretation".
Topál et al. (Reports, 26 September 2008, p. 1831) proposed that infants' perseverative search errors can be explained by ostensive cues from the experimenter. We use the dynamic field theory to test the proposal that infants encode locations more weakly when social cues are present. Quantitative simulations show that this account explains infants' performance without recourse to the theory of natural pedagogy.
Spencer
John P
JP
Department of Psychology and Delta Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. john-spencer@uiowa.edu
Dineva
Evelina
E
Smith
Linda B
LB
D003071:Cognition; D003142:Communication; D003463:Cues; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018730:Infant Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D012919:Social Behavior