Age differences in estimating arrival-time

The present study examined the accuracy in extrapolating an occluded trajectory in relation to observer age. Adults and children aged 7, 10, and 13 were tested in a prediction-motion task which consisted of judging, after the occlusion of the final part of its path, the moment of arrival of a moving stimulus towards a specified position. Results showed that children as young as 7 years old are able to use the same strategy as adults in the extrapolation of an occluded moving object. However, accuracy in responses improves most significantly for occlusion times equal to or more than 400 ms and this improvement occurs mainly between 7 and 10 years of age. This confirms that children are less efficient in performing the computations necessary to extrapolate in time an occluded trajectory. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.