Categorical perception

Question 1

What is categorical perception?

Answer 1

a gradual change in a variable along a continuum

Question 2

Eimas, Siqueland, Jusczyk and Vogorito (1971) devised a clever experiment to establish whether infants are capable of categorial perception.

Answer 2

They used a method known as High Amplitude Sucking procedure, exploits the facts that infants suck on dummies at a regular rate, which speeds up if something attracts their attention.

They found that their sucking rate sped up when they played a different stimulus from the other perceptual category that they had already heard. Showing that they had noticed something different. /ba/, /pa/

This suggests that categorical perception might be innate