Final answer:
Object permanence is the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they're not perceived, a key cognitive milestone developed in infancy, specifically during the sensorimotor stage.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept being described is known as object permanence, which refers to the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen, heard, or otherwise sensed. This is a crucial stage in cognitive development typically attained during the sensorimotor stage, which lasts from birth to about 2 years of age.
Research by developmental psychologist Jean Piaget highlighted that very young infants before achieving object permanence, behave as if a non-visible object no longer exists. However, by the age of approximately 5 to 8 months, children begin to develop object permanence, which is evident in their understanding that things continue to exist even when not in view, as when playing hide and seek or looking for a toy hidden under a blanket.
The term object permanence plays a vital role in cognitive development, as it lays the foundation for the understanding of the world as stable and predictable. Such developmental milestones are integral in forming the basic principles of how we interact and comprehend our environment throughout life.