Protocol Number: 98-CH-0155

Title:

Categorization Based on Motion-Carried Information in Infancy

Number:

98-CH-0155

Summary:

This study is concerned with psychological and physiological development in infants. Specifically, researchers are interested in when and how babies are able to group similar objects, like animals or vehicles, into the same category. This study will investigate whether motion aids in the categorization process and allows for earlier demonstration of this competency.

Previous studies have demonstrated that the ability to categorize stationary objects or images of objects, is present by 6 months of age. This study is made up of three experiments to test:

1. The infant's ability to categorize photographic stimuli.

2. The infant's ability to categorize moving stimuli.

3. The infant's ability to transfer knowledge from moving to photographic stimuli.

Initially, the abilities of 3- and 6-month-old infants will be compared. It is also possible that 9-month-old infants will be tested. Data will consist of looking at time measures (level of attention to displays) and heart rate. The ability of infants to transfer category knowledge will support the view that motion is a source of information for object categorization.

Sponsoring Institute:

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Recruitment Detail

Type: Participants currently recruited/enrolled

Gender: Male & Female

Referral Letter Required: No

Population Exclusion(s): None

Eligibility Criteria:

INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION CRITERIA

Infants will be selected for inclusion in Studies 1 and 2 on the basis of age, gestational status (i.e., term vs. preterm birth), visual normality, and general health status.

The initial group will be recruited to participate within two weeks of becoming 2 months of age.

Infants with a gestational age of less than 36 weeks, and/or those with histories of severe perinatal complications, visual abnormalities, or congenital developmental disorders will not be recruited for participation.

Equal numbers of males and females will be recruited to participate.

Special Instructions:

Currently Not Provided

Keywords:

Perception

Development

Cognition

Vision

Infants

Autonomic Function

Cardiac Vagal Tone

Categorization

Habituation

Motion-Carried Information

Recruitment Keyword(s):

None

Condition(s):

Child Development

Investigational Drug(s):

None

Investigational Device(s):

None

Intervention(s):

None

Supporting Site:

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Contact(s):

Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office
Building 61
10 Cloister Court
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-4754
Toll Free: 1-800-411-1222
TTY: 301-594-9774 (local),1-866-411-1010 (toll free)
Fax: 301-480-9793

Electronic Mail:prpl@mail.cc.nih.gov

Citation(s):

Infants' sensitivity to kinetic information for three-dimensional object shape

Color vision and hue categorization in young human infants

Basic-level and superordinate-like categorical representations in early infancy

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National Institutes of Health Clinical Center Bethesda, Maryland 20892. Last update: 01/13/2009