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Three studies explored the nature of form-function relationships recognized by infants. In Study 1, 14-and 18-month-old infants were habituated to videotaped displays of objects in which 2 formfunction correlations were embodied within different parts of objects. Infants were tested on objects in which these familiar correlations either were maintained or were violated. Infants at both ages noticed the violations, indicating recognition of the relationship between the forms and their corresponding functions. Studies 2 and 3 examined infants' recognition of a form-function correlation that was inconsistent with the kinds of correlations found in real objects. Fourteen-and 18-montholds were habituated to objects in which the form of one part was correlated with the function of a different part. Only the younger infants attended to the form-function correlation, suggesting that older infants have acquired constraints on the kinds of correlations they recognize.

We examined the relation between motor skills and attention to objects features in events in which a hand acted on an object (e.g., squeezed it) that then produced a sound (e.g., squeaking). Six-to 7-month-old infants (N = 41) were habituated to a single event and then tested with changes in appearance and action. Infants robustly responded to changes in action, but as a group did not respond to changes in appearance. Moreover, more skilled activity with objects during naturalistic play was associated with longer looking to a change in appearance, but not to a change in action. Implications for the relation between perception and action in infancy are discussed.