A new study published by Asst. Psychology Prof. Tobias Grossmann and his colleagues at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences found that seven-month-old infants can pick up on social cues conveyed through the eyes.
Human eyes are unique in that the sclera — or the white part of the eye — is highly visible whenever the eye is open, as described by a University press release. Eyes play a large part in conveying emotional information, especially through the amount of sclera displayed. If the eyes are wide open, as is the case when someone expresses fear or surprise, more of the sclera will be visible. If someone is smiling, they will close their eyes partially, revealing less of the sclera.
“There is some evidence that human adults have specific brain mechanisms that allow them to detect eyes cues, and eye whites in particular,” Grossmann said. “We asked the question, does this ability emerge early in development and therefore constitute a critical feature of social functioning?”
Seven-month-old infants were chosen for the study because that is the earliest age at which children can distinguish between facial expressions like fear and happiness.
“We didn’t know, until now, if they would be able to do it purely on the basis of eye whites, when they are not consciously aware of what is being presented to them,” Grossmann said.
Grossmann and his team used electroencephalography, or EEG, to measure the brain activity of the infants when shown different images of human eyes.
“We conducted two different experiments, one in which we varied the size of the sclera, [which is] used to communicated fear, [and] we also varied [whether] the eyes are looking straight at the infant or away from the infant,” Grossmann said.
They presented the images to the infants for only 50 milliseconds — much less time than is needed for a child that age to consciously process the information. The infants displayed different brain waves when presented with different images of sclera.
“They still pick up on differences in whether there are large eye whites, which indicate fear, and whether those eyes are looking at them,” Grossmann said.
EEG brain imaging technology allowed the researchers to look for specific changes in infants’ brain waves as they looked at the images. The changes in brain waves that were observed previously had been linked to emotional changes.
“Those brain waves … are indicative of the child demonstrating some kind of discrimination in looking at those facial expressions,” Grossmann said.
Grossmann and colleagues conducted the experiment at the Max Planck Institute in Leipzig, Germany. The study involved more than 40 infants.
Read More
Student Council debates resolution for increased allergen transparency, reviews summer budget
By Arshiya Pant | 16 hours agoThe resolution aimed to support students by requiring U.Va. Dine locations to provide a comprehensive list of allergens for food items on GrubHub.
Honor Committee brainstorms sanction diversification, considers future steps for AI
By Lexie Stadler | YesterdayHancock and Carson Breus, vice chair for sanctions and third-year Commerce student, said they are collaborating to explore fresh sanctioning avenues.
Gaston and Ramazani Houses — the University’s newest upperclassmen residences
By Zackary Holt and Vyshnavi Tatta | 2 days agoDining options will include a Peet's Coffee, The Den by Denny's, a Bodega deli and space for an additional restaurant that will change on a rotating basis.
