# Moving, Seeing, Hearing, Smelling and Tasting: How Sensory–Motor Experiences Shape Early Cognitive Development

## TL;DR

This paper explores how sensory and motor experiences influence early cognitive development and argues for a more integrated approach in developmental science.

## Contribution

The paper synthesizes findings across sensory-motor domains and advocates for a dynamic systems approach to early cognitive development.

## Key findings

- Motor, visual, auditory, olfactory, and gustatory experiences all play roles in shaping early cognitive development.
- Predictive processing is a common theme across sensory-motor domains in early development.
- A dynamic systems approach is recommended to better understand individual and environmental variabilities.

## Abstract

In the past few decades, we have seen increasing specialization within developmental science, with researchers focusing on narrowly defined research areas in child development. This specialization has yielded deep insights and methodological advances across many developmental areas. However, it has also led to siloes of expertise. In this article, we review findings on how motor, visual, auditory, olfactory and gustatory experiences affect early cognitive development. We identify some common themes across these domains, such as the role of predictive processing in early development. We argue for the importance of adopting a dynamic systems approach and considering the variabilities both within the individual and in the larger cultural environments. Finally, we conclude by outlining several avenues for future research that seek to advance integrative approaches within developmental science.