The mobile conjugate reinforcement paradigm in a lab setting

Emily C Merz1, Laraine McDonough2,3, Yong Lin Huang2

  • 1Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York.

The mobile conjugate reinforcement task was administered to 4-month-old infants in a lab rather than a home setting where it is usually administered. Learning and retention patterns were comparable to those of infants tested in their homes, suggesting flexibility in where this task can be administered. These results pave the way for this task to be used with a broader range of infants for whom home visits are not practical or convenient (e.g., infants in child care). Developmental research conducted with a more diverse population of infants would facilitate our understanding of cognitive development very early in life.

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