Path Constraints on Movement of Objects

• Main Author: Chinta, Swetha
• Other Authors: Schmuckler, Mark
• Language: en_ca
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: Path; constraints; object; motion; infants; perception; 0620
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1807/65545

The present study examined 8 -10 month-old and 11 -13 month-old infants’ capabilities to infer constraints imposed by an explicit visual pathway on object movement of object. In a preferential looking paradigm, infants observed a ball rolling down a U– or V–shaped path. In the U-shaped path, infants observed a ball rolling from beginning to the end of the path (possible), and a ball rolling down from the beginning and stopping midway of the path (impossible). In the V-shaped path, infants observed a ball rolling from beginning and stopping midway (possible), and a ball rolling down the beginning to end of the path (impossible). Analyses of looking times showed a marginal effect on path, with longer looking times towards the possible V-shaped path by both age groups. Overall, infants had weak representations for constraints induced by an explicitly presented path on movement of the object.