ABSTRACT

Gaining proficiency using tools during childhood is an important accomplishment and involves using the hands to perceive tool properties and perform goal-directed actions. Using a perception–action perspective, we explored (a) whether tool characteristics (inertia) influence perceptual judgments and hammering action performance and (b) developmental changes in perception and performance. Adults and preschool children completed a hammering performance task and a forced choice perceptual task in which they judged which of 2 hammers was more effective. In the performance task, we found that the number of pegs hammered increased developmentally and changed as a function inertial characteristics, with more pegs hammered for hammers weighted in the head. Period of hammering movements was modified to compensate for inertial characteristics and movement variability decreased developmentally. In the perceptual task, we found inertial characteristics influenced perceptual judgments and attunement to this information increased developmentally. In addition, we found measures of perception and performance were related. These findings provide evidence that perception and action are coupled and changes in one are associated with changes in the other during development.

摘要

在童年时期使用工具来提高熟练度是一项重要的成就，其中包括用手来感知工具的性能并执行目标导向的动作。我们使用一种感知－行动的观点，探讨了（a）工具的特征（惯性）是否会影响感知判断和锤击动作的表现，以及（b）感知和表现的发展变化。成人和学龄前儿童完成了一项锤击表演任务和一项强制选择的知觉任务，他们判断了两把锤子中的哪一个更有效。在执行任务中，我们发现被锤击的钉子数量随着功能惯性特性的增长而增加，并且随着锤头重量的增加而被锤击的钉子数量更多。修改了锤击运动的周期，以补偿惯性特性，并且运动变异性逐渐降低。在知觉任务中，我们发现惯性特性影响了知觉判断，并且对该信息的协调逐渐发展。另外，我们发现知觉和表现的量度是相关的。这些发现提供了证据，即知觉和行动是耦合的，并且在发展过程中，一个方面的变化与另一个方面的变化相关。