We investigate when infants exhibit knowledge of the familiar size of well-known objects and whether this knowledge is affected by stimulus format, that is, whether the stimuli are presented as real objects or matched pictures. Infants (130 7- and 12-month-olds) saw everyday objects such as sippy cups and pacifiers in their familiar size and novel…

This study examined the effect of increasing visual perceptual load on auditory awareness for social and non-social stimuli in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD, n = 63) and typically developing (TD, n = 62) adolescents. Using an inattentional deafness paradigm, a socially meaningful ('Hi') or a non-social (neutral tone) critical…

Background: The perceptual similarity between two objects, specifically similarity in the shape of the referents, is a crucial element for relating words in earlier stages of development. The role of this perceptual similarity has not been systematically explored in children with Down syndrome (DS). Method: The aim was to explore the role of…

The processing of time activates a spatial left-to-right mental timeline, where past events are "located" to the left and future events to the right. If past and future words activate this mental timeline, then the processing of such words should interfere with hand movements that go in the opposite direction. To test this hypothesis, we…

It is still unknown whether visual illusion can bias motor performance in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) individuals. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of visual illusion on performance in children with ASD in a far-aiming skill. In a within-subject design, participants (n = 20, IQ > 70, mean age: 10.15) performed golf putting…

Although putting on a mask over our nose and mouth is a simple but powerful way to protect ourselves and others during a pandemic, face masks may interfere with how we perceive and recognize one another, and hence, may have far-reaching impacts on communication and social interactions. To date, it remains relatively unknown the extent to which…

Eye tracking enables the reconstruction of eye movements and thus the analysis of visual information selection and integration processes during problem solving. In this way, learner-specific difficulties can be identified and problem-solving process can be adapted accordingly. For such an adaptation, the prediction of response behavior plays a…

Empirical evidence suggests a phonological loop deficit associated with Down syndrome. A trisomy 21 may be associated with a narrowing of visual attention to fewer than four objects at a time too. In a study with computer tachistoscopy, the hypothesis was confirmed in all 194 persons with trisomy 21. The subitising limit of persons with trisomy 21…

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced governments and educational institutions around the world to look for viable alternatives to campus-based education. However, pedagogical methods such as Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) might need to be adapted to low-interactivity distance learning environments, such as datacasting. This paper describes VTS+, a…

Usage-based Phonology proposes that language users' knowledge is stored in the form of exemplars reflecting experience of language usage. Exemplars encompass all visual and auditory information perceived during a language interaction, but few studies have examined the role that visual information plays. This dissertation addresses this question…

Evidence that physical activities are good for health and well-being is well established. However, the intrinsic motivation for many people is not high enough to generate active engagement. A simple way to encourage enrollment in ballet classes is to make course descriptions more attractive by combining textual impulses with before-and-after…

With a brief half-second presentation, a medical expert can determine at above chance levels whether a medical scan she sees is abnormal based on a first impression arising from an initial global image process, termed "gist." The nature of gist processing is debated but this debate stems from results in medical experts who have years of…

The main purpose of this study was to systematically review and meta-analyse the single-case studies on the use of activity schedules with individuals with autism spectrum disorders. The other purposes were to describe the characteristics of activity schedule studies, assess the design standards of activity schedule studies, estimate the treatment…

In this article, we suggest incorporating visual images into peace education through "interactive peace imagery" (IPI). We will show, and illustrate with examples from our work, that interactive teaching creates a space for students to reflect upon their socializations, including visual ones, without which image interpretation cannot be…

Recent research has demonstrated that individual differences in infant attention to faces and voices of women speaking predict language outcomes in childhood. These findings have been generated using two new audiovisual attention assessments appropriate for infants and young children, the Multisensory Attention Assessment Protocol (MAAP) and the…