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Inhibitory control interacts with core knowledge in toddlers’ manual search for an occluded object
Author(s) -
Baker Sara T.,
Gjersoe Nathalia L.,
SibielskaWoch Kasia,
Leslie Alan M.,
Hood Bruce M.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
developmental science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.801
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1467-7687
pISSN - 1363-755X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-7687.2010.00972.x
Subject(s) - psychology , object (grammar) , core (optical fiber) , control (management) , cognition , cognitive psychology , inhibitory control , cognitive development , cognitive science , artificial intelligence , computer science , neuroscience , telecommunications
Core knowledge theories advocate the primacy of fundamental principles that constrain cognitive development from early infancy. However, there is concern that core knowledge of object properties does not constrain older preschoolers’ reasoning during manual search. Here we address in detail both failure and success on two well‐established search measures that require reasoning about solidity. We show that poor performance arises from an inability to engage the appropriate search strategy rather than a simple failure of core knowledge. Moreover, we demonstrate that successful search is positively correlated with inhibitory control. We believe that toddlers’ manual search for an occluded object reflects a general capacity to deploy inhibition so that search behaviour can be guided by core knowledge.