The Multisensory Attention Assessment Protocol (MAAP): Characterizing individual differences in multisensory

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Lorraine E Bahrick1, James Torrence Todd1, Kasey C Soska1

  • 1Department of Psychology.

Developmental Psychology
|October 26, 2018
PubMed

Insights

The Multisensory Attention Assessment Protocol (MAAP) measures attention skills in preverbal children. It reveals how attention to multisensory events impacts early cognitive and language development.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Early Childhood Education

Background:

  • Multisensory attention is vital for early development.
  • No existing measures assess these skills in preverbal children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Introduce the Multisensory Attention Assessment Protocol (MAAP).
  • Assess individual differences in attention to multisensory events.
  • Examine developmental trajectories and predictive validity.

Main Methods:

  • A video-based protocol assessing attention duration, intersensory matching, and shifting speed.
  • Tested on 2- to 5-year-olds and 12-month-old infants.
  • Correlated MAAP scores with language and cognitive assessments.

Main Results:

  • High attention maintenance and intersensory matching observed in both age groups.
  • Attention and shifting were impaired by high visual stimulation.
  • Children demonstrated superior attention skills compared to infants.
  • Attention duration and accuracy predicted cognitive and language outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • The MAAP is a valid tool for assessing preverbal children's multisensory attention.
  • Early attention patterns predict later cognitive and language development.
  • MAAP facilitates research into developmental pathways.

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