Three-month-old infants' categorization of animals and vehicles based on static and dynamic attributes

Three-month-old infants' categorization of animals and vehicles based on st atic and dynamic attributes was investigated using a multiple-exemplar habi tuation-test paradigm. Half of the infants viewed static color images of an imals and vehicles, and the other half viewed dynamic point-light displays of the same animals and vehicles. Following habituation, infants viewed a n ovel exemplar from the habituation category and an exemplar from a novel ca tegory. Regardless of whether they viewed static or dynamic displays, infan ts showed habituation to varying exemplars from the same category generaliz ed habituation to a novel exemplar from the habituation category, dishabitu ated to an exemplar from a novel category, and showed a significant novelty preference for a novel-category exemplar. These findings suggest that infa nts categorize animals and vehicles using either static or dynamic informat ion. (C) 2001 Academic Press.