INFANTS PERCEPTION OF DYNAMIC RELATIONS BETWEEN OBJECTS - PASSING THROUGH OR SUPPORT

This study investigated 4-, 6-, and 9-month-old infants' ability to perceive whether the width relation between a block and the opening of a box specified passing through or support. If infants could perceive which outcome was specified by the width relation, longer looking times would be expected for an outcome that violates this specification. Six- and 9-month-olds looked significantly longer when a block wider than a box opening passed through this opening and when a block with a width smaller than the opening seemed to become supported at the level of this opening. Results indicate that around 6 months of age, infants become able to perceive relations between objects that specify the outcomes of events.