[Gaze behavior in infancy as an indicator of information processing].

Many studies on perceptual development in infancy use visual attention behaviour as an indicator of intellectual capacities. Decrement of attention with repeated exposure to a visual stimulus (habituation) and recovery of attention to a novel stimulus (dishabituation) are interpreted as reflecting the infant's processing of stimulus information. This information processing interpretation as well as the main empirical habituation-dishabituation procedures are explained. Furthermore, sensory adaptation arguments for habituation and dishabituation are discussed and refuted. Following this critical discussion, empirical evidence for the information processing point of view is given. In this context, investigations are mentioned which indicate substantial correlations between early habituation and dishabituation and later intelligence. These studies support a continuity perspective of mental development from infancy.