Head and eye movements affect object processing in 4-month-old infants more than an artificial orientation cue

Sebastian Wahl (Corresponding author), Christine Michel, Sabina Pauen, Stefanie Hoehl

Publications: Contribution to journalArticlePeer Reviewed

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of attention-guiding stimuli on 4-month-old infants' object processing. In the human head condition, infants saw a person turning her head and eye gaze towards or away from objects. When presented with the objects again, infants showed increased attention in terms of longer looking time measured by eye tracking and an increased Nc amplitude measured by event-related potentials (ERP) for the previously uncued objects versus the cued objects. This suggests that the uncued objects were previously processed less effectively and appeared more novel to the infants. In a second condition, a car instead of a human head turned towards or away from objects. Eye-tracking results did not reveal any significant difference in infants' looking time. ERPs indicated only a marginally significant effect in late slow-wave activity associated with memory encoding for the uncued objects. We conclude that human head orientation and gaze direction affect infants' object-directed attention, whereas movement and orientation of a car have only limited influence on infants' object processing.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)212-230
Number of pages19
JournalBritish Journal of Developmental Psychology
Volume31
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2013
Externally publishedYes

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

  • 501005 Developmental psychology

Keywords

  • Attention
  • Cues
  • Electroencephalography
  • Evoked Potentials
  • Eye
  • Eye Movement Measurements
  • Eye Movements
  • Female
  • Head
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant Behavior
  • Male
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Orientation
  • Pattern Recognition, Visual
  • Social Perception
  • Time Factors
  • Comparative Study
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

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