The dynamics of intermodal matching: Seven- and 12-month-olds' intermodal matching of affect

Abstract

The purpose of this experiment was to examine whether and how a common methodological difference frequently employed within the intermodal matching procedure affects infants' intermodal matching. Specifically we examined the effects of incorporating or excluding silent control trials on seven- and 12-month-olds' intermodal matching of affect. Results revealed that seven-month-olds showed reliable matching when presented all in-sound trials whereas 12-month-olds showed reliable matching when half of the trials were presented silently and half of the trials were presented in-sound. Results are discussed in terms of the dynamics of infant attention and those conditions where the inclusion of silent trials may be appropriate.

Keywords::

• Intermodal matching
• Infant perception
• Affect

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Brigham Young University Family Studies Center and a BYU undergraduate mentoring grant awarded to the first author. We also acknowledge Mariana Vaillant-Molin and Helen Flom, for serving as actresses used in the stimulus events, Diane P. F. Montague for providing the training tape used in creating the stimulus events. This experiment represents a portion of the data submitted by the second author in partial fulfillment for the M. S. degree from Brigham Young University.