Perceptual-Motor Behavior, Cognitive Theories, and Spatial Development
Perceptual-Motor Behavior and Cortical Function
Perceptual-Motor Behavior refers to actions that require the involvement of the cortex as a computer of sensory information, providing basic consistency to conduct. Through movement and perceptual-motor behaviors, children achieve the following developmental milestones:
- Spatial organization of the body schema and orientation.
- Graphical representation and expression.
- Rhythm and motor activity.
- Perception of the senses: color, shape, textures, sounds, etc.
- Organization and time structures.
- Eye-hand coordination.
Perception allows the body, through the senses, to receive, process, and interpret information from its environment. It is the first stage of cognition, through which individuals capture information from the world around them.
Characteristics of Perception
Perception is a long process with different parts. It needs a constant flow of information and is inherently dynamic. Key characteristics include:
- It requires a stimulus. (Note: A hallucination is considered an alteration of perception because there is no external stimulus.)
- The transformation of sensory input is formed on the basis of the representation we have made. We are not amending the stimulus, but rather our internal representation of it.
- This representation becomes increasingly abstract over time.
- Perception is relative.
- It depends on the degree of adaptation that the receptor captures stimulation at the physiological level.
- The ultimate goal is to achieve an interpretation of the distal stimulus that is meaningful to us.
Main Theories of Perception
Template Theory (Pattern Matching)
This is one of the early theories of recognition. Theorists argue that we have stored in our brains a series of pattern templates previously experienced. This theory is considered incorrect if one takes the metaphor of matching a contour exactly to a letter. A second principle proposed is standardization. The Template Theory can be improved if, before the comparison occurs between the new input information and the templates, the input undergoes a process of “elimination” which separates the essential information about the pattern from the nonessential.
The Trait Theory (Feature Detection)
What is stored in memory are short lists of traits or features that correspond to objects. These features are extracted from the stimuli and then combined and compared with those stored in memory. This process reduces the number of features that can be combined and recombined to allow pattern recognition. The recognition process involves a feature search, which can take two forms: serial search or parallel search.
Pandemonium Model
The Pandemonium model assumes that feature recognition is developed from four distinct stages of processing.
Ecological Theory and Direct Perception
Gibson stated that perception is direct and immediate. He suggested that stimuli impose order on the mind. He affirmed that almost all perceptual experience can be explained from the information found directly within the stimulus. Some of the theoretical assumptions are as follows:
- The pattern of light that stimulates the eyes can be conceived as an optical array; it contains all the visual information that reaches the eyes.
- The optical array provides unambiguous information about the layout of objects in space.
- The perception of the potential uses of an object (affordances) is influenced by psychological states.
Constructive Theory
Perception is not determined entirely by incoming stimuli to the senses; by contrast, it is an active construction in which higher-level cognitive processes are involved. Neisser proposed a concept now well recognized by cognitive psychologists: the perceptual cycle. This concept includes three elements: patterns, perceptual exploration, and environmental stimuli. The perceptual cycle shows that humans do not limit themselves to passively receiving information; this information is superimposed with anticipatory schemes that provide us with a kind of plan to calculate what will happen next.
The Development of Spatial Organization
At birth, we cannot distinguish our body from the environment. Consider the adult who can appreciate distances, understand perspectives, and structure the space around them. The journey from childhood to adulthood represents a huge developmental gap that the child must overcome gradually, aided by the maturation of the nervous system and, especially, by their experiences. Our goal is to facilitate this process.
A good spatial organization promotes security, takes us away from the fear of the unknown, and acts positively in controlling emotional and relational life accordingly.