W8 - Numerical Cog (INFANTS) Flashcards
How do infants and nonverbal animals represent numerosity?
They can perceive and discriminate different numbers of objects, distinguish which set has more items, and use two distinct systems for representing numerosity.
What are the two systems for representing numerosity?
The Analog Magnitude System (ANS) and the Object Individuation System (Subitizing).
Do these number systems require language?
No, both humans and animals use these systems, meaning language is not necessary for numerical representation.
What is the Analog Magnitude System (ANS)?
A system that provides noisy, approximate representations of numbers, allowing infants to distinguish large numerosities if they are sufficiently different.
Give an example of how the Analog Magnitude System works.
Infants can differentiate 10 vs. 20 but struggle with 20 vs. 21.
What are the limitations of the ANS?
It follows ratio-dependent discrimination, meaning infants can tell apart numbers with a large ratio difference (e.g., 8 vs. 16, 1:2) but struggle with closer ratios (e.g., 8 vs. 12, 2:3).
What is the Object Individuation System?
A system that allows infants to track small numbers of objects (up to 3-4 items) with precise discrimination without counting.
Give an example of how the Object Individuation System works.
Infants can instantly recognize 2 vs. 3 without counting, but they struggle with 8 vs. 9.
What are the limitations of the Object Individuation System?
It only works for 1 to 3 objects and breaks down when tracking larger sets.
What are the 3 main methods used to study numerical cognition in infants?
- Looking Time Methods – Measures infant attention using violation of expectation and preferential looking. 2. Manual Search Tasks – Observes infant searching behavior when expecting a different number of objects. 3. Choice Tasks – Infants crawl toward the larger set of objects.
What was the aim of Spelke & Xu (2000)?
To test whether 6-month-old infants could discriminate different numerosities using the Analog Magnitude System.
What was the method of Spelke & Xu (2000)?
One group of infants was habituated to 8 dots, another to 16 dots. In the test phase, infants saw the same or different number of dots.
What were the findings of Spelke & Xu (2000)?
Infants dishabituated (looked longer) when the number of dots changed. This suggests they can represent numerosity using the Analog Magnitude System.
What was the aim of Izard et al. (2009)?
To test if newborns could match numbers across modalities (e.g., sound and vision).
What was the method of Izard et al. (2009)?
Newborns heard auditory sequences (4 vs. 12 sounds). In the test phase, they saw visual displays that matched or mismatched the number of sounds.
What were the findings of Izard et al. (2009)?
Newborns looked longer at the numerically matching visual display. This suggests that the Analog Magnitude System is present at birth.
What is the main limitation of the Analog Magnitude System?
It relies on ratio-dependent discrimination, meaning infants can distinguish numbers with large ratios (e.g., 1:2 or 1:3) but struggle with smaller ratios (e.g., 2:3).
How does ratio-dependent discrimination affect infants and newborns?
- Infants can tell 8 vs. 16 (1:2) but struggle with 8 vs. 12 (2:3). Newborns can tell 4 vs. 12 (1:3) but struggle with 8 vs. 4 (1:2), showing their system is still developing.
What was the aim of Wynn (1992) - 5 month olds?
To test if infants track precise numbers using the violation of expectation method.
What was the method of Wynn (1992)?
Infants were shown an addition or subtraction event (e.g., 1+1 should equal 2).
What were the findings of Wynn (1992)?
Infants looked longer at impossible outcomes (e.g., 1+1=1). This suggests they track exact numbers for small sets (up to 3).
What was the aim of Feigenson et al. (2002) - 10-12 month olds?
To see if infants use number representations to guide their choices.
What was the method of Feigenson et al. (2002)?
Infants crawled toward a bucket with more crackers.
What were the findings of Feigenson et al. (2002)?
Infants reliably picked the bucket with more crackers. This suggests the Object Individuation System guides choices when numbers are small.
What was the aim of Feigenson & Carey (2003) 12-14 month olds?
To test whether infants track and expect precise numbers.
What was the method of Feigenson & Carey (2003)?
Researchers hid 2 objects in a box and removed one in front of the infant. In the experimental condition, the box was empty instead of containing 1 object.
What were the findings of Feigenson & Carey (2003)?
Infants searched longer when they expected another object to be present. This suggests they can track exact numbers (1, 2, or 3 objects) and use this to guide search behavior.
What was the aim of Starkey et al. (1990) intermodal matching?
To test whether infants can match numbers across different sensory modalities (vision and hearing).
What was the method of Starkey et al. (1990)?
Infants saw two displays (2 vs. 3 dots). They heard corresponding drumbeats (2 vs. 3 beats).
What were the findings of Starkey et al. (1990)?
Infants looked longer at the matching number display. This suggests they can match numbers across different modalities.
What are the two key number systems in infants?
- Analog Magnitude System (ANS) – Approximate representations of large numbers, present from birth. 2. Object Individuation System (Subitizing) – Precise small-number tracking (1-3 objects).
What are the key limitations of each system?
ANS: Struggles with close ratios (e.g., 8 vs. 12). Object Individuation System: Breaks down for numbers larger than 3.
