VSS Public Lecture

VSS Public Lecture

Saturday, May 11, 10:00 – 11:30 am
Renaissance Academy of Florida Gulf Coast University

Perceptual Expertise Begins in Infancy

Contrary to conventional wisdom, infants are not passive, naïve observers. Aided by prenatally acquired perceptual abilities, starting at birth infants begin to interact with their world. As they grow, they rapidly learn about the faces, voices, speech, and language in their native environment. By their first birthday, infants become perceptual experts but, paradoxically, only for native faces, voices, speech, and language. This talk will show how the knowledge that we acquire as infants not only facilitates but also hinders our interactions with our world for the rest of our lives.

Jointly sponsored by VSS and the Renaissance Academy of Florida Gulf Coast University.

Biography

David J. Lewkowicz is an internationally renowned authority on infant perceptual and cognitive development. He is currently Professor of Psychology at Florida Atlantic University and a past President of the International Society on Infant Studies.