Absence of Mirror-Reversal Tendency in Cutaneous Pattern Perception and Acquisition of a Signed Language in Deaf Children

Journal/Book: Brit J Develop Psychol. 1995; 13: St Andrews House, 48, Princess Rd, East, Leicester, United Kingdom LE1 7DR. British Psychological Soc. 97-106.

Abstract: When a letter is drawn on the forehead, it is often perceived cutaneously as a mirror reversal of the experimenter-defined stimulus. The occurrence of this phenomenon was examined in 3- and 5-year-old deaf and hearing boys using a reliable behavioural technique that did not require verbal instruction. Hearing 3- and 5-year-olds and deaf 3-year-olds showed mirror-reversal tendencies that were quite consistent with those reported previously in adults and 4-year-olds. However, this phenomenon was not observed in deaf 5-year-olds. The difference was considered to be related to the fact that deaf 5-year-olds were in the process of acquiring a considerable vocabulary in a signed language as their first language. The implications of these findings are discussed with reference to possible explanations of the mirror-reversal phenomenon and the characteristics of the acquisition of language by deaf children.

Note: Article N Masataka, Kyoto Univ, Primate Res Inst, Inuyama, Aichi 484, Japan

Keyword(s): REFERENTIAL MESSAGES; BODY

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