Goal anticipation during action observation is influenced by synonymous action capabilities, a puzzling developmental study.
Eighteen- and 25-month-old human toddlers' ability to manually solve a puzzle and their ability to anticipate the goal during observation of similar actions were investigated. Results demonstrate that goal anticipation during action observation is dependent on manual ability, both on a group level (only 25-month-olds solved the manual task and anticipated the goal during observation) and individually within the older age group (r (xy) = 0.53). These findings suggests a connection between manual ability and the ability to anticipate the goal of others' actions in toddlers, in accordance with the direct matching hypothesis.
Gredebäck
Gustaf
G
Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. gustaf.gredeback@psykologi.uio.no
Kochukhova
Olga
O
D000375:Aging; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009039:Motion Perception; D009048:Motor Skills; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D013997:Time Factors