Experience matters: 11-Month-old infants can learn to use material information to predict the weight of novel objects

In contrast to previous findings, this study demonstrates that 11-month-old infants are able to learn the relationship between object material and object weight when exploring different objects that provided a systematic covariation of both object features. This guides their action in a subsequent preferential-reaching task.

► 11-month-old infants can learn the relation between object material and weight. ► Learning depends on experiences with systematically covariating object features. ► Infants’ learning is related to their exploratory procedures. ► Infants use information gained through exploration in later object-directed action.