Babies allowed to feel but not see one of two different textured pacifiers, then allowed to view both pacifiers will likely:

The reasoning behind choosing the option that babies will likely stare longer at the pacifier they felt is grounded in the concept of cognitive recognition and the relationship between tactile and visual stimuli. When babies are exposed to different textures through touch but are unable to see them initially, they develop a mental association between the tactile experience and the visual representation of those objects.

After being allowed to see both pacifiers, their prolonged gaze at the one they previously felt indicates that they are recognizing it as the object they experienced, demonstrating their ability to form connections between their sensory experiences. This behavioral response is an indicator of their cognitive processing and interest in the item they have a history with, and it reflects the fundamental psychological principle that supports the development of memory and learning in infants.

By observing a stronger visual interest in the pacifier they had previously touched, it suggests that infants are actively thinking, comparing, and making associations, which is a remarkable aspect of early cognitive development. This highlights the fundamental processes of learning that occur in response to sensory experiences.