Abstract
Based on studies of infant gaze, developmental psychologists have ascribed abstract cognitive functions to young infants. In their thought-provoking article, Blumberg and Adolph (B+A) [ 1. Blumberg M.S. Adolph K.E. Protracted development of motor cortex constrains rich interpretations of infant cognition. Trends Cogn. Sci. 2023; 27: 233-245 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar ] consider the implications of developmental neurobiology for these claims. Abstract cognitive functions in adults depend on cortical circuits; however, B+A hypothesize that the developing cortex is too immature to drive gaze in the youngest infants. If this is true, then subcortical regions must be driving all observed gaze behavior in young infants. If infants’ gaze relies on entirely distinct neural mechanisms from those underlying abstract adult cognition, B+A argue, ‘claims of developmental continuity between infant and adult cognition are suspect’ ([ 1. Blumberg M.S. Adolph K.E. Protracted development of motor cortex constrains rich interpretations of infant cognition. Trends Cogn. Sci. 2023; 27: 233-245 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar ], p. 233). We challenge this line of reasoning, and instead argue that the available, though admittedly limited, neural data from young infants suggests remarkable continuity between infant and adult minds and brains.
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