title: Infant categorization of path relations during dynamic events.
abstract: Fundamental to amassing a lexicon of relational terms (i.e., verbs, prepositions) is the ability to abstract and categorize spatial relations such as a figure (e.g., boy) moving along a path (e.g., around the barn). Three studies examine how infants learn to categorize path over changes in manner, or how an action is performed (e.g., running vs. crawling). Experiment 1 (n = 60) finds that 10- to 12-month-old English-learning infants categorize a figure's path. In Experiment 2 (n = 27) categorization is disrupted when the ground object is removed, suggesting the relation between figure and ground defines the path. Experiment 3 (n = 24) shows that language may be a mechanism guiding category formation. These studies suggest that English-learning infants can categorize path, a component lexicalized in the world's languages.
authors.affiliation: Florida International University. shannon.pruden@fiu.edu
authors.forename: Shannon M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Pruden
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roseberry
authors.forename: Tilbe
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Göksun
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hirsh-Pasek
authors.forename: Roberta M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Golinkoff
mesh_terms: D032882:Comprehension / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007600:Judgment; D007804:Language Development; D008037:Linguistics; D008297:Male; D009039:Motion Perception / Q000502:physiology; D010775:Photic Stimulation