The sources of spatial cognition
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Roger Lécuyer
Abstract
This chapter compares three theoretical conceptions of infants’ early knowledge of entities and spatial representations. Piaget and neo-piagetian conceptions emphasize the role of motor activity. Nativism postulates the existence of preprogrammed core knowledge comprising the basic rules governing the physical environment. Perceptual theories hypothesize that these rules can be rapidly learned through early perceptual activity. These different views are confronted to three types of data: infants’ use of depth cues in two-dimensional displays, the emergence of object permanence, and the conditions for success or failure in tasks that involve searching for objects, with particular attention to the impact of motor impairment. Our main conclusion is that this evidence provides more support for the perceptual view than for other views.
Abstract
This chapter compares three theoretical conceptions of infants’ early knowledge of entities and spatial representations. Piaget and neo-piagetian conceptions emphasize the role of motor activity. Nativism postulates the existence of preprogrammed core knowledge comprising the basic rules governing the physical environment. Perceptual theories hypothesize that these rules can be rapidly learned through early perceptual activity. These different views are confronted to three types of data: infants’ use of depth cues in two-dimensional displays, the emergence of object permanence, and the conditions for success or failure in tasks that involve searching for objects, with particular attention to the impact of motor impairment. Our main conclusion is that this evidence provides more support for the perceptual view than for other views.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Contributors vii
- Introduction 1
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Part I. Spatial Entities and the Structures of Languages: Descriptive Work
- A taxonomy of basic natural entities 35
- On the spatial meaning of contre in French 53
- The prepositions par and à travers and the categorization of spatial entities in French 71
- The linguistic categorization of spatial entities 93
- The expression of semantic components and the nature of ground entity in orientation motion verbs 123
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Part II. Spatial categorization in language and cognition
- Categorizing spatial entities with frontal orientation 153
- Containment, support, and beyond 177
- Static and dynamic location in French 205
- Precursors to spatial language 233
- The sources of spatial cognition 247
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Part III. Characterizing categories of spatial entities: Formal ontology
- From language to ontology 269
- The temporal essence of spatial objects 285
- Part-of relations, functionality and dependence 307
- Objects, locations and complex types. 337
- Language index 363
- Subject index 365
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Contributors vii
- Introduction 1
-
Part I. Spatial Entities and the Structures of Languages: Descriptive Work
- A taxonomy of basic natural entities 35
- On the spatial meaning of contre in French 53
- The prepositions par and à travers and the categorization of spatial entities in French 71
- The linguistic categorization of spatial entities 93
- The expression of semantic components and the nature of ground entity in orientation motion verbs 123
-
Part II. Spatial categorization in language and cognition
- Categorizing spatial entities with frontal orientation 153
- Containment, support, and beyond 177
- Static and dynamic location in French 205
- Precursors to spatial language 233
- The sources of spatial cognition 247
-
Part III. Characterizing categories of spatial entities: Formal ontology
- From language to ontology 269
- The temporal essence of spatial objects 285
- Part-of relations, functionality and dependence 307
- Objects, locations and complex types. 337
- Language index 363
- Subject index 365
