Investigating motionese: The effect of infant-directed action on infants' attention and object exploration

Adults modify their communication when interacting with infants, and these modifications have been tied to infant attention. However, the effect infant-directed action on infant behavior is understudied. This study examined whether infant-directed action affects infants, specifically their attention to and exploratory behaviors with objects. Forty-eight 8- to 10-month-old infants and their caregivers participated ill a laboratory session during which caregivers demonstrated objects to infants using infant-directed action. Results indicated that variation in amplitude and repetition were tied to differences in infant attention, and varying levels of repetition were tied to differences in object exploration. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.