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Visual Attention Preference for Intermediate Predictability in Young Children.

ABSTRACT: How do children allocate their attention? There is too much information in the world to encode it all, so children must pick and choose. How do they organize their sampling to make the most of the learning opportunities that surround them? Previous work shows infants actively seek intermediately predictable information. Here we employ eye-tracking and computational modeling to examine the impact of stimulus predictability across early childhood (ages 3-6 years, n = 72, predominantly Non-Hispanic White, middle- to upper-middle-income), by chronological age and cognitive ability. Results indicated that children prefer attending to stimuli of intermediate predictability, with no differences in this pattern based on age or cognitive ability. The consistency may suggest a robust general information-processing mechanism that operates across the lifespan.

SUBMITTER: Cubit LS

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8012238 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Visual Attention Preference for Intermediate Predictability in Young Children.

Cubit Laura S LS Canale Rebecca R Handsman Rebecca R Kidd Celeste C Bennetto Loisa L

Child development 20210108 2

How do children allocate their attention? There is too much information in the world to encode it all, so children must pick and choose. How do they organize their sampling to make the most of the learning opportunities that surround them? Previous work shows infants actively seek intermediately predictable information. Here we employ eye-tracking and computational modeling to examine the impact of stimulus predictability across early childhood (ages 3-6 years, n = 72, predominantly Non-Hispanic ...[more]

PMID: 33417248

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