From outcome prediction to action selection: developmental change in the role of action-effect bindings

Ideomotor theory considers bidirectional action–effect associations to be the fundamental building blocks for intentional action. The present study employed a novel pupillometric and oculomotor paradigm to study developmental changes in the role of action‐effects in the acquisition of voluntary acti...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Developmental science 2013-11, Vol.16 (6), p.801-814
Main Authors: Verschoor, Stephan A., Spapé, Michiel, Biro, Szilvia, Hommel, Bernhard
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Association Learning - physiology
Awareness
Brain - growth & development
Child Development
Cognition - physiology
Cognitive Processes
Developmental biology
Developmental Stages
Eye Movements
Female
Humans
Infant
Infant Behavior
Infants
Intention
Male
Motor ability
Motor Reactions
Prediction
Psychomotor Performance - physiology
Pupil - physiology
Reaction Time
Role
Theories
Young Adult
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Summary:Ideomotor theory considers bidirectional action–effect associations to be the fundamental building blocks for intentional action. The present study employed a novel pupillometric and oculomotor paradigm to study developmental changes in the role of action‐effects in the acquisition of voluntary action. Our findings suggest that both 7‐ and 12‐month‐olds (and adults) can use acquired action–effect bindings to predict action outcomes but only 12‐month‐olds (and adults) showed evidence for employing action‐effects to select actions. This dissociation supports the idea that infants acquire action–effect knowledge before they have developed the cognitive machinery necessary to make use of that knowledge to perform intentional actions. Ideomotor theory considers bidirectional action–effect associations to be the fundamental building blocks for intentional action. The present study employed a novel pupillometric and oculomotor paradigm to study developmental changes in the role of action‐effects in the acquisition of voluntary action. Our findings suggest that both 7‐ and 12‐month‐olds (and adults) can use acquired action–effect bindings to predict action outcomes but only 12‐month‐olds (and adults) showed evidence for employing action‐effects to select actions.
ISSN:1363-755X
1467-7687
DOI:10.1111/desc.12085