Final answer:
Substage 4, or the Coordination of Secondary Circular Reactions, occurs from 8 to 12 months of age in Piaget's sensorimotor stage of cognitive development. During this stage, infants develop object permanence and engage in goal-directed behavior, showing the ability to coordinate their actions to achieve specific outcomes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Substage 4, also known as the Coordination of Secondary Circular Reactions, occurs from 8 to 12 months of age in Piaget's sensorimotor stage of cognitive development. During this stage, infants begin to coordinate their secondary circular reactions, which are repetitive actions performed on objects for the purpose of achieving a specific outcome. For example, a child may repeatedly drop a toy from their high chair to see how it falls and learn about cause and effect.
At this stage, infants also develop object permanence, the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they are not visible. They can search for hidden objects and may show surprise or interest when an object disappears or reappears. This represents a major cognitive milestone in their ability to mentally represent and manipulate objects in their environment.
Another important development during this stage is the emergence of goal-directed behavior. Infants begin to intentionally use objects to achieve specific goals, such as using a stick to reach a toy that is out of their reach. These advancements in cognition and motor skills lay the foundation for further development in language, problem-solving, and social interaction.