Tactile recognition memory in infants.

This experiment was conducted to determine whether infants can recognize the shapes of objects by touch alone. 25 1-year-olds were administered 2 tasks, each of which consisted of a familiarization stage followed by a recognition test stage. The familiarization stage of both tasks was identical in that infants manipulated objects in the light. The test stages differed with respect to the lighting conditions. In the first task infants manipulated familiar and novel objects in the light, and in the second task, in darkness. Behavior in darkness was videotaped by infrared recording. Recognition memory was determined by infants' differential manipulatory responsiveness to novel and familiar objects. In both the lighted and darkness tests infants engaged in significantly more manipulation, exhibited more mouthing, and displayed more hand-to-hand transfers with novel compared to familiar objects. These data provide initial evidence that infants are capable of tactile recognition memory.