Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 6, 2026
12:06
Analyzing Mitochondrial Morphology Through Simulation Supervised Learning
Published on: March 3, 2023
4.8K
A little labeling goes a long way: Semi-supervised learning in infancy
Alexander LaTourrette1, Sandra R Waxman1,2
1Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois.
Developmental Science
|August 30, 2018
Summary
Infants can learn object categories using semi-supervised learning, where only a few examples are labeled. This learning method mirrors how babies acquire real-world categories and their names.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Science
- Developmental Psychology
- Machine Learning
Background:
- Labeling aids infant object categorization.
- Most real-world object exposure for infants is unlabeled.
- Machine learning offers insights into learning from sparse data.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if infants utilize semi-supervised learning for object categorization.
- To determine the impact of labeling timing on infant category learning.
- To provide evidence for semi-supervised learning in infancy.
Main Methods:
- A novelty preference task was used with 96 two-year-old infants.
- Infants were familiarized with a novel object category under different labeling conditions.
- Conditions included fully supervised, semi-supervised, unsupervised, and reversed semi-supervised learning.
Main Results:
- Infants succeeded in both fully supervised and semi-supervised conditions.
- Infants failed to learn the category in the unsupervised condition.
- Learning failed when labels were presented at the end of familiarization (reversed semi-supervised).
Conclusions:
- Infants demonstrate semi-supervised learning capabilities.
- Early labeling is crucial for infants to initiate categorization.
- Infants effectively learn categories from typical, sparsely labeled real-world input.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Socioemotional Development during Infancy
492
Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
Primary Temperament Types
492
01:14Avoidance Learning and Learned Helplessness
2.6K
Avoidance learning and learned helplessness are critical concepts in understanding behavioral responses to negative stimuli.
Avoidance learning occurs when an organism learns that a specific behavior can prevent an unpleasant outcome. For example, a student who receives a bad grade may start studying harder to avoid future poor grades. This behavior persists even when the negative outcome is no longer present. Avoidance learning is powerful because it maintains behavior in the absence of the...
Avoidance learning occurs when an organism learns that a specific behavior can prevent an unpleasant outcome. For example, a student who receives a bad grade may start studying harder to avoid future poor grades. This behavior persists even when the negative outcome is no longer present. Avoidance learning is powerful because it maintains behavior in the absence of the...
2.6K
01:27Associative Learning
1.3K
Associative learning is a fundamental concept in behavioral psychology, wherein a connection is established between two stimuli or events, leading to a learned response. This process is critical in understanding how behaviors are acquired and modified. Conditioning, the mechanism through which associations are formed, can be divided into two main types: classical conditioning and operant conditioning, each elucidating different aspects of associative learning.
Classical conditioning, also known...
Classical conditioning, also known...
1.3K
01:22Purposive Learning
512
E. C. Tolman emphasized the purposiveness of behavior — the idea that much of our behavior is goal-directed. For instance, employees who aim for a promotion work diligently to meet their targets. Tolman argued that when classical conditioning and operant conditioning occur, the organism acquires certain expectations. In classical conditioning, a child might fear a dog because they expect it to bite. In operant conditioning, a person might consistently work overtime because they expect a...
512
01:12Observational Learning
995
Albert Bandura's observational learning, also known as imitation or modeling, occurs when a person observes and imitates another's behavior. It is a quicker process than operant conditioning. A well-known example is the Bobo doll study, where children who saw an adult acting aggressively towards the doll were more likely to act aggressively when left alone, compared to those who observed a nonaggressive adult. Many psychologists view observational learning as a form of latent learning...
995
01:25Learning Disabilities
624
Learning disabilities are cognitive disorders caused by neurological impairments that affect cognitive functions like language and reading, without indicating overall intellectual or developmental challenges. These disabilities differ from global intellectual or developmental disabilities as they are limited to distinct cognitive functions. Common learning disabilities include dysgraphia, dyslexia, and dyscalculia, each of which impacts unique aspects of learning.
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a...
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a...
624