Two experiments involving a total of 177 infants 8 to 11 months of age found that subjects used a global processing strategy like adults' in discriminating transformations of a six-tone melody. Subjects needed melodic contour and frequency range to judge new sequences, but, in easy tasks, they also used absolute frequency. (CB)

The results fail to support the hypothesis that intersensory integration is the sole or even the primary developmental skill accounting for matching task improvement with increasing age. The hypothesis that retarded readers fail to develop skills in intersensory integration is also not supported. (Authors)