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New study babies orient themselves over the eyes of their counterpart
Babies are constantly exposed to a flood of impressions. To find out what is important, they orient themselves to other people. Researchers have now discovered that it is above all the eyes of their counterpart through whom the little ones are guided.
Look newborn in the eye
When couples have children, they are advised to talk a lot with the babies right after birth, because this contributes to a better development of the offspring. It is also important to look them in the eyes. Not so much because of the facial expressions, but because babies are guided by the eyes of their counterparts. The German researchers have now found out.
A new study shows the importance of direct eye contact in dealing with babies, especially in the first few months. The little ones orient themselves by the eyes of their counterpart. (Image: Photographee.eu/fotolia.com) Constant flood of impressions
Babies are constantly exposed to a flood of impressions. In order to find their way around, they orient themselves very early to other people who show them what is especially important in their immediate environment.
So far, however, it was not clear which signals the little ones use as a priority.
Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences (MPI CBS) in Leipzig and the University of Heidelberg have now found out that it is above all the eyes of their counterparts that make them guide themselves.
The characteristic light-dark contrast of dark irises on a white background seems to be particularly important here, a communication states.
Attention test with four month old subjects
To get their results, four-month-old subjects were placed in front of a screen for attention testing, staring at two eyes - represented as two white ellipses each with a black dot in the middle.
In the message, the process is illustrated by the example of a boy: Suddenly, the eyes of the couple move to one side on a pile of building blocks. The boy follows him attentively. The colorful rattle on the other side does not look at the artificial eyes.
Also the baby does not seem to pay any attention to her. However, when both objects flare up again on the screen, the little ones seem to be captivated by the rattle. She is obviously new to him.
To draw attention of the babies
"According to the so-called novelty preference, babies look at things longer that are new to them. Here it is obviously the rattle that was initially ignored by the pair of eyes and thus also by the babies, "said study director Christine Michel.
The movement of the black dots thus seems to be able to direct the attention of the babies just as targeted to objects in the environment as the viewing direction of another person creates.
But only at points that look like real eyes? To find out, the researchers showed the small study participants again two moving points, which direct their "view" to the side - but this time white circles on a black background.
It turned out: The boy seems to follow these circles less purposefully. As both toys reappear here after a short break, he does not pay any more attention to either.
So he seems equally familiar with both objects. His attention was obviously shuttling between the two things, regardless of the direction of the white circles.
Is the ability innate or learned?
"The children seem to follow the direction of the black dots much more attentively than the white dots," explains the neuroscientist.
"So you learn especially well from black spots on a white background that move. They seem to be sensitive to the contrast of real eyes. "
So far, it is still unclear whether the ability to recognize eyes as a signal generator, is innate or children learn them in the first few months.
"Some scientists assume that there is a kind of brain module in the brain that focuses on the eyes of other people. It would then recognize where a person is looking and thereby influence our interaction with it, "explains Christine Michel.
Apes have already been shown to have these specially targeted neurons.
How important eye contact is in the first few months
"Others believe that the ability to follow looks is not there from the beginning. The little ones have learned over time that it's worthwhile to follow their eyes, "adds Michel.
Accordingly, they would have sensitized themselves in the course of their development for the characteristic light-dark contrast. According to the neuroscientist, further studies must now show which of the two explanations is the right one. After all, the babies of this study are already four months old.
However, one thing is already certain: "The results show how important direct contact with the baby is in the first few months. If you look at them consciously before showing them something, you can specifically focus their attention on them, "explains Stefanie Hoehl, senior author of the pertinent publication, which has now appeared in the renowned scientific journal" Scientific Reports ".
"Other ways, however, with which we can point them to things, understand children much later." So they can not follow the clue until the end of the first year of life, when someone points to an object - instead of looking at him. (Ad)