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Testing the Dynamic Field Theory: Working Memory for Locations Becomes More Spatially Precise Over Development
Author(s) -
Schutte Anne R.,
Spencer John P.,
Schöner Gregor
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
child development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.103
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1467-8624
pISSN - 0009-3920
DOI - 10.1111/1467-8624.00614
Subject(s) - psychology , separation (statistics) , cognitive psychology , object (grammar) , field (mathematics) , spatial ability , developmental psychology , cognition , statistics , neuroscience , computer science , artificial intelligence , mathematics , pure mathematics
The dynamic field theory predicts that biases toward remembered locations depend on the separation between targets, and the spatial precision of interactions in working memory that become enhanced over development. This was tested by varying the separation between A and B locations in a sandbox. Children searched for an object 6 times at an A location, followed by 3 trials at a B location. Two‐ and 4‐year‐olds', but not 6‐year‐olds', responses were biased toward A when A and B were 9‐in. and 6‐in. apart. When A and B were separated by 2 in., however, 4‐ and 6‐year‐olds' responses were biased toward A. Thus, the separation at which responses were biased toward A decreased across age groups, supporting the predictions of the theory.