Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2026
A Real-Time Interactive System for Studying Confrontational Pursuit Behavior in Rodents
Published on: May 16, 2025
The development of two-dimensional tracking: a longitudinal study of circular pursuit
Gustaf Gredebäck1, Claes von Hofsten, Jessika Karlsson
1Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Box 1225, 75142, Uppsala, Sweden. gustaf.gredeback@psyk.uu.se
Insights
Infants under 8 months cannot consistently predict object motion on circular paths. Both horizontal and vertical eye movements mature later than previously thought, especially at higher speeds.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Infant Motor Control
- Visual Perception
Background:
- Previous research suggested earlier development of predictive tracking skills.
- Infants' ability to track objects is crucial for learning and interaction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the developmental trajectory of predictive gaze tracking in infants (6-12 months) on circular paths.
- To assess the maturity of horizontal and vertical eye movement components during circular tracking.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study design tracking infants aged 6 to 12 months.
- Analysis of gaze patterns during object tracking on circular trajectories at varying velocities.
Main Results:
- Consistent predictive gaze tracking emerged around 8 months of age.
- Both horizontal and vertical tracking components were less mature than anticipated, with vertical tracking being particularly underdeveloped at high velocities (approx. 20°/s).
- Horizontal and vertical tracking appear mutually dependent in early development.
Conclusions:
- Infant predictive tracking of circular motion develops later than previously estimated.
- Vertical tracking maturity lags behind horizontal tracking, especially under dynamic conditions.
- Early eye movement development involves interdependent horizontal and vertical control.
Abstract:
We investigated 6- to 12-month-old infants' ability to track an object moving on circular trajectories, using a longitudinal design. Consistent predictive gaze tracking was not found before 8 months of age. These results indicate that infants' horizontal and vertical components of circular tracking are less mature than expected from previous studies of one-dimensional horizontal tracking. Vertical components are especially immature, particularly during high velocity tracking (approximately 20 degrees /s). The results also suggest that horizontal and vertical tracking are mutually dependent during early development. Saccades were predictive (average lag >-125 ms) from 6 months onwards.
