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 in 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.