Comment on "Infants' perseverative search errors are induced by pragmatic misinterpretation"

Science. 2009 Sep 25;325(5948):1624; author reply 1624. doi: 10.1126/science.1172759.

Abstract

Topál et al. (Reports, 26 September 2008, p. 1831) proposed that infants' perseverative search errors can be explained by ostensive cues from the experimenter. We use the dynamic field theory to test the proposal that infants encode locations more weakly when social cues are present. Quantitative simulations show that this account explains infants' performance without recourse to the theory of natural pedagogy.

Publication types

  • Comment
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Cognition*
  • Communication
  • Cues
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant Behavior / psychology*
  • Interpersonal Relations
  • Memory, Short-Term
  • Social Behavior*