Infants Focus on the Familiar and the Phenomenal

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Examining the factors that capture a baby’s attention yields insights into cognitive development

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Peekaboo is a classic game for babies for a reason. Infants are fascinated by unexpected actions and images, yet when it comes to human characteristics they tend to focus on the familiar. By tracking babies’ gazes, pupil dilation and brain activity, researchers have uncovered several patterns in what piques their interest.

The examples below highlight key factors that get an infant’s attention and the ways these curiosities contribute to our understanding of their cognitive development.

Vanishing acts

Ethnicity

Gender

Language

Math Errors

Nonsensical Behavior

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