Ma. Bell et Se. Adams, Comparable performance on looking and reaching versions of the A-not-B task at 8 months of age, INFANT BEH, 22(2), 1999, pp. 221-235
The neuropsychological model of A-not-B performance focuses on the maturati
on of the frontal lobe and the development of skills associated with workin
g memory, inhibition, and attention. These cognitive skills are essential f
or A-not-B performance regardless of the search modality required to exhibi
t object knowledge. This study used a within-subjects design to examine 8-m
onth-old infants' performance on looking and reaching versions of the A-not
-B task. In both Experiment 1 (n = 62) and Experiment 2 (n = 47), there wer
e no differences in A-not-B performance on looking and reaching versions of
the task. These data suggest that the looking and reaching versions of the
A-not-B task measure comparable cognitive abilities at 8 months of age.