Infant and Early Childhood Cognition

Two line drawings of infants at different stages of development.

Infants interact differently with agents and objects. By 2 months, babies greet a new object by reaching, a new person by cooing. (Figure by MIT OpenCourseWare.)

Instructor(s)

MIT Course Number

9.85

As Taught In

Fall 2005

Level

Undergraduate

Cite This Course

Course Features

Course Description

This course is an introduction to cognitive development focusing on children's understanding of objects, agents, and causality. Students develop a critical understanding of experimental design and how developmental research might address philosophical questions about the origins of knowledge, appearance and reality, and the problem of other minds.