title: Plain or decorated? Object visual features matter in infant spatial categorization.
abstract: The current study investigated infant spatial categorization of a support relation across differences in the perceptual features of the objects. Infants of 8 and 14 months (N = 67) were habituated to dynamic support events with objects that were plain and monochromatic or those that were embellished with decorations (e.g., polka dots, feathers). Infants were then tested with events that presented a novel pair of objects, a novel spatial relation (i.e., containment), or both. Infants, particularly those of 8 months, formed an abstract categorical representation of a support relation when habituated with the decorated objects but not the plain objects. The results suggest that the perceptual features of objects can facilitate infants' categorization of spatial relations, at least in some learning settings and especially with younger infants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. Electronic address: yp229@cornell.edu.
authors.forename: Youjeong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
authors.forename: Marianella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Casasola
mesh_terms: D003116:Color; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D010988:Play and Playthings; D065854:Spatial Navigation
keywords: Categorization; Generalization; Infants; Object features; Perceptual richness; Spatial cognition