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Continuity in tactual-visual cross-modal transfer: infancy to 11 years
S A Rose1, J F Feldman, L R Futterweit
1Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461, USA. srose@aecom.yu.edu
Developmental Psychology
|May 23, 1998
Summary
Individual differences in cross-modal transfer, the ability to recognize shapes by touch then sight, remain consistent over 10 years. This continuity was significant for left-hand tactual exploration at age 11.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Cross-modal transfer, the integration of information across different sensory modalities, is crucial for cognitive development.
- Previous research suggests potential links between early cross-modal abilities and later cognitive outcomes, but longitudinal continuity is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the longitudinal continuity of individual differences in tactual-visual cross-modal transfer over a 10-year period.
- To examine the influence of hand dominance and specific cognitive abilities on this continuity.
Main Methods:
- Tactual-visual tasks were administered to full-term and preterm children at ages 1 and 11 years.
- Participants visually recognized shapes previously explored tactually without vision.
- Cross-modal performance was assessed, including hand advantage and correlations with later cognitive measures.
Main Results:
- Significant continuity in tactual-visual cross-modal transfer was observed over the 10-year span.
- A left-hand advantage in cross-modal performance was evident at age 11.
- Continuity was significant when tactual exploration at age 11 involved the left hand (r = .34-.36).
Conclusions:
- Individual differences in tactual-visual cross-modal transfer show remarkable stability from infancy to childhood.
- The left hand plays a specific role in maintaining this continuity, suggesting lateralized processing.
- This stable cross-modal ability significantly predicts later intelligence quotient (IQ), accounting for a substantial portion of the previously reported relationship.