Cognitive Development

Cognitive development research investigates how cognitive abilities emerge and evolve, focusing on both human and artificial intelligence. Current research employs large language models (LLMs) and agent-based simulations to analyze cognitive abilities across various tasks, including numerical reasoning, language comprehension, and conceptual understanding, often drawing parallels to Piaget's stages of development. These studies reveal correlations between model architecture, training methods (like self-supervised learning and reinforcement learning with critical periods), and the emergence of human-like cognitive skills, offering insights into both human cognitive development and the design of more sophisticated AI systems. The findings have implications for understanding the development of human intelligence and for improving the design and training of AI agents.