Final answer:
The A-not-B error is a phenomenon observed in infants during object permanence tests. It refers to the tendency of infants to search for a hidden object in the location where they previously found it rather than in a new location. This error can occur due to limited memory capacity, influence of familiarity and salience, and difficulty inhibiting the prepotent response.
Step-by-step explanation:
The A-not-B error is a phenomenon observed in infants between 8-12 months of age during object permanence tests. It refers to the tendency of infants to search for a hidden object in the location where they previously found it (location A) rather than in a new location where it was last hidden (location B). This error can still occur even when infants have a basic understanding of object permanence and have developed the ability to search for objects.
There are several proposed explanations for why infants commit the A-not-B error. One hypothesis suggests that infants have a limited memory capacity and are more likely to rely on previously successful motor behavior (reaching to location A) rather than updating their mental representation of the object's location. Another explanation is that infants may be influenced by the familiarity and salience of location A, leading them to persist in searching there despite having witnessed the change to location B. Additionally, the A-not-B error may be influenced by the difficulty of inhibiting the prepotent response to search in location A.
Overall, the A-not-B error highlights the complex interplay between cognitive development, memory, and attention in infants. It demonstrates that even though infants have developed some understanding of object permanence, they can still be influenced by other factors that lead them to make errors in their search behavior.
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