The purpose of the study was (1) to examine the results from a two-association perceptual-motor task as to their implications for Luria's theory about the development of verbal control of non-verbal behavior; (2) to explore the effects of various learning experiences upon this development. The sample consisted of 20 randomly selected children in each of 3 age groups (3-4-and 5-year-olds). The children in each group were randomly assigned to 4 treatments. The treatments were adult verbal instructions, visual observation, simulation direct practice and replication. Luria's basic task involved pressing a square block to either a yellow or blue light and a round block to either a blue or yellow light. Four conditions of the task were: (1) overt self-instructions; (2) remaining silent; (3) a reversal of the associations with conditions one and two repeated. A three-way analysis of variance and subanalysis were performed on number of correct responses. Results indicated significant differences in proficiency between age levels--proficiency increases with age. Significant differences were found between the 4 conditions of the task--performance decreased following reversal. The two-association task did differentiate stages in the development of verbal control of nonverbal behavior with high sensitivity for the fully developed specific function of speech. (Author/MH)