Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 24, 2026
07:00
Measuring the Switch Cost of Smartphone Use While Walking
Published on: April 30, 2020
Developmental changes in point-light walker processing during childhood and adolescence: an event-related potential
1Department of Integrative Physiology, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, 38 Nishigonaka, Myodaiji, Okazaki, 444-8585, Japan. hirai@nips.ac.jp
Neuroscience
|March 24, 2009
Summary
Neural responses to biological motion develop linearly throughout childhood. By age 10, the brain
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Biological motion perception is crucial for social interaction.
- Understanding the developmental trajectory of neural responses to biological motion is key to identifying developmental milestones.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate developmental changes in neural responses to biological motion stimuli.
- To compare event-related potentials (ERPs) between children and adults viewing point-light walker (PLW) and scrambled point-light walker (sPLW) stimuli.
Main Methods:
- Measured ERPs in 50 children (7-14 years) and 10 adults.
- Presented visual stimuli: PLW and control sPLW.
- Analyzed ERP components (P1, N1, N2) in bilateral occipitotemporal regions.
Main Results:
- P1 latency was shorter for PLW than sPLW across all ages.
- P1 amplitude was larger for PLW than sPLW only in 7-year-olds.
- P1 amplitude and N1 latency decreased linearly with age.
- N1 and N2 amplitudes were larger for PLW than sPLW in all age groups.
- P1-N1 amplitude changed with development, N2 amplitude did not.
Conclusions:
- Early visual processing (intensity and timing) for biological motion develops linearly during childhood.
- Neural responses to biological motion mature by approximately 10 years of age.
- Occipitotemporal processing of biological motion shows significant developmental changes throughout childhood.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Information Processing Approach
The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is also...
01:18Cognitive Development During Adolescence
During adolescence, individuals experience significant cognitive development that enhances their understanding of others' emotions and thoughts, known as cognitive empathy. This period is marked by an increased ability to adapt to others' perspectives and a more nuanced understanding of others' mental states, a skill that is foundational for social problem-solving and conflict avoidance. The development of cognitive empathy relies heavily on the theory of mind — the recognition that people have...