1980 volume 9(6) pages 713 – 718
doi:10.1068/p090713

Cite as:
Walker A S, Owsley C J, Megaw-Nyce J, Gibson E J, Bahrick L E, 1980, "Detection of elasticity as an invariant property of objects by young infants" Perception 9(6) 713 – 718
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Detection of elasticity as an invariant property of objects by young infants

Arlene S Walker, Cynthia J Owsley, Jane Megaw-Nyce, Eleanor J Gibson, Lorraine E Bahrick

Received 5 June 1980, in revised form 25 July 1980

Abstract. Three-month-old infants were habituated to two different motions of deformation, presented 'live' with an object of sponge rubber. After habituation, one-third of the subjects was presented with a third deforming motion; one-third was presented with a rigid motion of the same object; and the other third was presented with a continuation of the habituation sequence. The group presented with a rigid motion dishabituated, exhibiting a sharp increase in looking time. The other two groups showed little or no increase. These results suggest that infants perceive elasticity of substance, in contrast to rigidity, as an invariant property of an object over different deforming motions.

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