Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Language and Cognition01:27

Language and Cognition

641
Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
641
The Nativist Approach01:21

The Nativist Approach

313
The nativist approach to infant cognitive development proposes that infants are born with inherent knowledge structures that allow them to interpret the world almost immediately. This perspective contrasts with earlier developmental theories, such as those proposed by Jean Piaget, which emphasized a more gradual acquisition of cognitive abilities through interaction with the environment. One key concept in this approach is object permanence — the understanding that objects continue to...
313
Language Development01:22

Language Development

737
Children master language quickly and with relative ease, supported by both biological predisposition and reinforcement. B. F. Skinner (1957) proposed that language is learned through reinforcement, while Noam Chomsky (1965) argued that language acquisition mechanisms are biologically determined.
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
737
Piaget's Stage 3 of Cognitive Development01:17

Piaget's Stage 3 of Cognitive Development

895
During Piaget's concrete operational stage, from ages 7 to 11, children exhibit a marked increase in logical thinking skills, specifically in relation to tangible, real-world events. This stage is characterized by the development of several essential cognitive concepts, including conservation, reversibility, and classification, all of which support the child's evolving capacity for structured thought.
Conservation and Constancy of Quantity
A significant cognitive milestone in the...
895
Depth Perception and Spatial Vision01:15

Depth Perception and Spatial Vision

1.7K
Depth perception is the ability to perceive objects three-dimensionally. It relies on two types of cues: binocular and monocular. Binocular cues depend on the combination of images from both eyes and how the eyes work together. Since the eyes are in slightly different positions, each eye captures a slightly different image. This disparity between images, known as binocular disparity, helps the brain interpret depth. When the brain compares these images, it determines the distance to an object.
1.7K
Piaget's Stage 2 of Cognitive Development01:14

Piaget's Stage 2 of Cognitive Development

691
The preoperational stage, the second of Jean Piaget's four stages of cognitive development, spans approximately ages 2 to 7 and is characterized by the emergence of symbolic thinking. During this stage, children use language, images, and symbols to represent objects and concepts, enabling them to engage in imaginative and pretend play. This symbolic thinking supports children's ability to perform make-believe actions, such as imagining a broom as a horse or their hand as a phone, blending...
691

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Children's Developing Understanding of the Value of Disagreement for Learning.

Child development·2025
Same author

When is it appropriate to ask a question? The role of age, social context, and personality.

Journal of experimental child psychology·2024
Same author

A Novel Approach to Assessing Infant and Child Mental Rotation.

Journal of Intelligence·2023
Same author

Where does language come from? The development of a naïve biological understanding of language.

Journal of experimental child psychology·2023
Same author

Face-to-face learning enhances the social transmission of information.

PloS one·2022
Same author

Maternal Stress and Early Neurodevelopment: Exploring the Protective Role of Maternal Growth Mindset.

Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBP·2021

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 25, 2025

The Spatial Memory Game: Testing the Relationship Between Spatial Language, Object Knowledge, and Spatial Cognition
05:15

The Spatial Memory Game: Testing the Relationship Between Spatial Language, Object Knowledge, and Spatial Cognition

Published on: February 19, 2018

11.3K

Children's exposure to spatial language promotes their spatial thinking.

Marianella Casasola1, Wendy S Wei1, Daniel D Suh1

  • 1Department of Human Development.

Journal of Experimental Psychology. General
|March 28, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Spatial language significantly boosts preschool children's spatial skills, particularly mental rotation. This improvement in spatial cognition extends beyond the initial play context, showing lasting benefits for young learners.

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Investigating the Effects of Mind-Body-Movement Practices on Brain Function
06:17

Author Spotlight: Investigating the Effects of Mind-Body-Movement Practices on Brain Function

Published on: January 26, 2024

2.5K
Utilizing Electroencephalography Measurements for Comparison of Task-Specific Neural Efficiencies: Spatial Intelligence Tasks
06:57

Utilizing Electroencephalography Measurements for Comparison of Task-Specific Neural Efficiencies: Spatial Intelligence Tasks

Published on: August 9, 2016

11.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 25, 2025

The Spatial Memory Game: Testing the Relationship Between Spatial Language, Object Knowledge, and Spatial Cognition
05:15

The Spatial Memory Game: Testing the Relationship Between Spatial Language, Object Knowledge, and Spatial Cognition

Published on: February 19, 2018

11.3K
Author Spotlight: Investigating the Effects of Mind-Body-Movement Practices on Brain Function
06:17

Author Spotlight: Investigating the Effects of Mind-Body-Movement Practices on Brain Function

Published on: January 26, 2024

2.5K
Utilizing Electroencephalography Measurements for Comparison of Task-Specific Neural Efficiencies: Spatial Intelligence Tasks
06:57

Utilizing Electroencephalography Measurements for Comparison of Task-Specific Neural Efficiencies: Spatial Intelligence Tasks

Published on: August 9, 2016

11.8K

Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Development
  • Early Childhood Education
  • Spatial Cognition

Background:

  • Preschool children's spatial skills are crucial for academic success.
  • The role of spatial language in developing these skills is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if spatial language enhances spatial skills in preschoolers.
  • To determine if these benefits transfer to new contexts.

Main Methods:

  • Two studies involving 4-year-old children were conducted.
  • Children were assigned to play-only or spatial-language and play conditions.
  • Spatial skills (mental rotation, spatial vocabulary) were assessed before and after play sessions.

Main Results:

  • Children exposed to spatial language showed significantly higher posttest scores on mental rotation tasks.
  • The quantity and variety of spatial language used during play predicted mental rotation gains.
  • These improvements were replicated in a second study with diverse play activities and Head Start participants.

Conclusions:

  • Spatial language actively promotes the development of spatial cognition in young children.
  • The positive effects of spatial language on spatial skills are transferable to different settings.
  • Early exposure to spatial language during play can enhance mental rotation abilities.