In the Learning Lab, we are interested in how infants and young children learn about their world. What perceptual and cognitive changes take place over the first six years of life? Specifically, we are interested in what young babies can pick up from their visual environment, and how preschoolers learn to attend to tasks.
There are many uses for research such as ours. For instance, studying normally developing infants and toddlers helps us recognize signs of developmental delays in children. This awareness is particularly important since early detection is key in the treatment of many developmental disorders. Additionally, by understanding how babies and preschoolers develop cognitively, we can improve the design of their toys and educational materials to more fully address their needs.