# The Development of Categorization

> **NIH NIH R01** · OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $613,477

## Abstract

Project Summary
 The proposed project is designed to advance our understanding of the development of category learning –
a fundamental component of human intelligence. The proposed research is based on the hypothesis of
multiple mechanisms sub-serving category learning: (a) an early developing mechanism (Mechanism1) is
based on distributed attention and learning of within-category statistics and (b) later developing mechanism
(Mechanism2) is based on selective attention to category-relevant information. Under Mechanism1, both
relevant and less relevant dimensions are encoded, with learned representations being similar to the input
stimulus structure (i.e., no learning-based representational change). Under Mechanism2, learned
representations are different from input stimulus structure (we refer to this difference as learning-based
representational change). Differences between Mechanism1 and Mechanism2 will transpire in many
performance indicators, including attention allocation during learning, memory for features, shapes of learning
curves, and accuracy and response times during training and testing. To test these hypotheses, we will
conduct a series of experiments with 4-9-year-old children, and adults. The proposed project has the following
Specific Aims. Specific Aim 1 is to conduct cross-sectional experiments and a longitudinal study examining
mechanisms of category learning across development. Mechanism1 and Mechanism2 predict qualitatively
different patterns of (1) attention allocation, categorization, and memory and (2) pre- and post-learning
representations of categories. Specific Aim 2 is to apply computational models to data collected within Study 1
to identify the differences between the two hypothesized mechanisms of category learning. To achieve this
goal, eye gaze and categorization and memory choice and response time data will be submitted to a suite of
models capturing the hypothesized mechanisms. The proposed project will advance our understanding of links
among critical aspects of typical cognitive development – selective attention, category learning, and memory.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10885981
- **Project number:** 5R01HD078545-09
- **Recipient organization:** OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** VLADIMIR M SLOUTSKY
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $613,477
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2014-08-01 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10885981

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10885981, The Development of Categorization (5R01HD078545-09). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10885981. Licensed CC0.

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