Testing the Dynamic Field Theory: Working Memory for Locations Becomes More Spatially Precise Over Development

• Published in: Child development Vol. 74; no. 5; pp. 1393 - 1417
• Main Authors: Schutte, Anne R., Spencer, John P., Schöner, Gregor
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing 01.09.2003; Blackwell Publishers; Blackwell; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Adult; Age differences; Age groups; Association Learning; Attention; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child development; Child, Preschool; Children; Cognition; Development; Developmental psychology; Distance Perception; Dynamic field theory; Empirical Articles; Experimentation; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Male; Memory; Memory, Short-Term; Modeling; Neural Networks (Computer); Orientation; Overdevelopment; Problem Solving; Psychology; Psychology, Child; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Psychomotor Performance; Retention (Psychology); Space; Space Perception; Spatial analysis; Spatial location; Spatial models; Stereotyped Behavior; T tests; Task performance; Toys; Working memory; Young children; Human; Preschool age; Stimulus localization; Theory; Cognition; Neural network; Dynamical system; Experimental study; School age; Cognitive development; Working memory; Child; Spatial memory
• ISSN: 0009-3920; 1467-8624
• DOI: 10.1111/1467-8624.00614

The dynamic field theory predicts that biases toward remembered locations depend on the separation between targets, and the spatial precision of interactions in working memory that become enhanced over development. This was tested by varying the separation between A and B locations in a sandbox. Children searched for an object 6 times at an A location, followed by 3 trials at a B location. Two- and 4-year-olds', but not 6-year-olds', responses were biased toward A when A and B were 9-in. and 6-in. apart. When A and B were separated by 2 in., however, 4- and 6-year-olds' responses were biased toward A. Thus, the separation at which responses were biased toward A decreased across age groups, supporting the predictions of the theory.