Spatio-temporal serial performance in children and adults

Abstract

Nine geometric forms were exposed succassively along a horizontal spatial array at a 1-sec rate from left-to-right (L-R) or from right-to-left (R-L) to two groups of 20 second-grade children. Similarly, 15 geometric forms were presented from L-R or R-L to two groups of 20 college-age Ss. Following each of 10 presentation trials, S attempted to reconstruct the arrangement of stimuli using a randomized deck of replicas of the geometric stimuli. Neither age group's performance was influenced by variation in the spatial location of items, but, in contrast to adults', children's performance was influenced by differences in the temporal sequence of stimulus presentation.