This research proposal contains two cross cutting themes. In the first theme, new experimental methods will be used that allow investigations to move beyond questions of what infants and animals know to how they know. By using modified versions of methods that have been used with human adults since the 1960's (i.e. chronometry), it will be possible to study the mental processes and cognitive systems underlying specific types of knowledge in infants and animals. Furthermore, by studying human infants and non-human primates with the same methods, it will be possible to investigate which of the mental processes and cognitive machinery that are available to human infants come from their human specific genetic endowment, and which are shared with other animals and thus evolutionary ancient. The second theme proposes: (1) chronometric studies investigating the mental processes by which individual objects, sets of objects, and representations of number are constructed, and (2) interference studies investigating the processes and cognitive machinery underlying representations of diverse types of individuals.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)
Project #
5F31MH075298-02
Application #
7121591
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-F12A (20))
Program Officer
Curvey, Mary F
Project Start
2005-09-01
Project End
2008-08-31
Budget Start
2006-09-01
Budget End
2007-08-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$30,723
Indirect Cost
Name
Harvard University
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
082359691
City
Cambridge
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02138
Wood, Justin N (2011) When do spatial and visual working memory interact? Atten Percept Psychophys 73:420-39
Wood, Justin N (2008) Visual memory for agents and their actions. Cognition 108:522-32
Wood, Justin N; Hauser, Marc D; Glynn, David D et al. (2008) Free-ranging rhesus monkeys spontaneously individuate and enumerate small numbers of non-solid portions. Cognition 106:207-21
Wood, Justin N (2007) Visual working memory for observed actions. J Exp Psychol Gen 136:639-52
Wood, Justin N; Glynn, David D; Phillips, Brenda C et al. (2007) The perception of rational, goal-directed action in nonhuman primates. Science 317:1402-5