Which of the following is NOT a phase of infant cognitive development?

The cognitive exploration phase is not recognized as a distinct phase of infant cognitive development. In established theories of cognitive development, especially those proposed by psychologists like Jean Piaget, various phases outline the progression of cognitive abilities in infants and young children.

Typically, the perinatal period refers to the time just before and after birth, which primarily involves physiological and sensory development rather than cognitive advancement. The reflexive period encompasses the initial weeks of life, where infants respond to stimuli mainly through innate reflexes. The sensorimotor period is a significant stage in which babies learn about their environment through sensory experiences and motor actions, usually classified as occurring from birth to around two years of age, where infants develop cognitive skills such as object permanence through interaction with the world around them.

In contrast, the cognitive exploration phase does not have a defined place in the traditional phases of cognitive development. Instead, it may represent an informal or generalized concept that could encompass various exploratory behaviors observed in older infants, but it is not a recognized stage in the scientific literature regarding cognitive development phases. This recognition establishes the proper understanding of the stages through which infants typically progress as their cognitive abilities mature.