Self-generated variability in object images predicts vocabulary growth.
Object names are a major component of early vocabularies and learning object names depends on being able to visually recognize objects in the world. However, the fundamental visual challenge of the moment-to-moment variations in object appearances that learners must resolve has received little attention in word learning research. Here we provide the first evidence that image-level object variability matters and may be the link that connects infant object manipulation to vocabulary development. Using head-mounted eye tracking, the present study objectively measured individual differences in the moment-to-moment variability of visual instances of the same object, from infants' first-person views. Infants who generated more variable visual object images through manual object manipulation at 15 months of age experienced greater vocabulary growth over the next six months. Elucidating infants' everyday visual experiences with objects may constitute a crucial missing link in our understanding of the developmental trajectory of object name learning.
['Slone|Lauren K|LK|0000-0003-0068-5866', 'Smith|Linda B|LB|', 'Yu|Chen|C|']
D001288:Attention D005133:Eye Movements D005260:Female D006801:Humans D007223:Infant D007804:Language Development D007858:Learning D008297:Male D014706:Verbal Learning D014796:Visual Perception D014825:Vocabulary
variability word learning infant object manipulation eye tracking vision