Final answer:
The use of visual habituation memory to assess infants' cognitive development is based on habituation
Step-by-step explanation:
The use of visual short-term memory to assess infants' cognitive development is based on habituation. Habituation is a form of non-associative learning where an individual becomes accustomed to a stimulus after repeated exposure. Infants showing reduced interest in a repeatedly presented object, and then renewed interest in a novel object, demonstrate their ability to remember and discern the familiar from the unfamiliar.
This use of habituation indicates that even very young children have an understanding of objects and how they work, contrary to what Piaget's stages of development would suggest. Moreover, cognitive learning involves more than just visual processing; it also includes a variety of sensory-based inputs such as touch, sound, and taste, which all contribute to the enhancement of cognitive abilities.
Cognitive development during infancy is crucial as it lays the foundation for future learning and adapting to the environment.