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Action Alters Shape Categories
Author(s) -
Smith Linda B.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
cognitive science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.498
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1551-6709
pISSN - 0364-0213
DOI - 10.1207/s15516709cog0000_13
Subject(s) - object (grammar) , action (physics) , horizontal and vertical , vertical axis , horizontal axis , process (computing) , psychology , communication , mathematics , geometry , physics , computer science , artificial intelligence , structural engineering , engineering , operating system , quantum mechanics
Two experiments show that action alters the shape categories formed by 2‐year‐olds. Experiment 1 shows that moving an object horizontally (or vertically) defines the horizontal (or vertical) axis as the main axis of elongation and systematically changes the range of shapes seen as similar. Experiment 2 shows that moving an object symmetrically (or asymmetrically) also alters shape categories. Previous work has shown marked developmental changes in object recognition between 1 and 3 years of age. These results suggest a role for action in this developmental process.