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Toddlers strategically adapt their information search
Title / Series / Name
Publication Volume
Publication Issue
Pages
Editors
Keywords
Humans
Infant
Male
Child, Preschool
Female
Adult
Information Seeking Behavior/physiology
Eye Movements/physiology
Exploratory Behavior/physiology
Markov Chains
Child Development/physiology
General Chemistry
General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology
General Physics and Astronomy
Infant
Male
Child, Preschool
Female
Adult
Information Seeking Behavior/physiology
Eye Movements/physiology
Exploratory Behavior/physiology
Markov Chains
Child Development/physiology
General Chemistry
General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology
General Physics and Astronomy
URI
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14018/26427
Abstract
Adaptive information seeking is essential for humans to effectively navigate complex and dynamic environments. Here, we developed a gaze-contingent eye-tracking paradigm to examine the early emergence of adaptive information-seeking. Toddlers (N = 60, 18-36 months) and adults (N = 42) either learnt that an animal was equally likely to be found in any of four available locations, or that it was most likely to be found in one particular location. Afterwards, they were given control of a torchlight, which they could move with their eyes to explore the otherwise pitch-black task environment. Eye-movement data and Markov models show that, from 24 months of age, toddlers become more exploratory than adults, and start adapting their exploratory strategies to the information structure of the task. These results show that toddlers’ search strategies are more sophisticated than previously thought, and identify the unique features that distinguish their information search from adults’.
Topic
Publisher
Place of Publication
Type
Journal article
Date
2024
Language
ISBN
Identifiers
10.1038/s41467-024-48855-4