The article below may contain offensive and/or incorrect content.
Face scanning is an important skill that takes place in a highly interactive context embedded within social interaction. However, previous research has studied face scanning using noninteractive stimuli. We aimed to study face scanning and social interaction in infancy in a more ecologically valid way by providing infants with a naturalistic and socially engaging experience. We developed a novel gaze-contingent eye-tracking paradigm in which infants could interact with face stimuli. Responses (socially engaging/socially disengaging) from faces were contingent on infants' eye movements. We collected eye-tracking and behavioral data of 162 (79 male, 83 female) 6-, 9- and 12-month-old infants. All infants showed a clear preference for looking at the eyes relative to the mouth. Contingency was learned implicitly, and infants were more likely to show behavioral responses (e.g., smiling, pointing) when receiving socially engaging responses. Infants' responses were also more often congruent with the actors' responses. Additionally, our large sample allowed us to look at the ranges of behavior on our task, and we identified a small number of infants who displayed deviant behaviors. We discuss these findings in relation to data collected from a small sample (N = 11) of infants considered to be at-risk for autism spectrum disorders. Our results demonstrate the versatility of the gaze-contingency eye-tracking paradigm, allowing for a more nuanced and complex investigation of face scanning as it happens in real-life interaction. As we provide additional measures of contingency learning and reciprocity, our task holds the potential to investigate atypical neurodevelopment within the first year of life. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved)





Previous Site

Departments
Authors
Libraries
Current Articles
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: How schools meet the needs of students crushed by stress, depression
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Losing a long-term spouse can be deadly
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Blog Post » One Year In: COVID-19 and Mental Health
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Is COVID-19 the rock in David’s slingshot that will bring down Goliath?
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: CDC says racism is a 'serious threat' to public health
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Challenges and innovations in Guatemala’s psychology
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Group therapy can provide meaningful connection during COVID-19 loneliness
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Covid-19 linked to depression and dementia
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Stress on the front lines of Covid-19
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Scientific Meeting » Virtual Workshop: Integrating Genomics with Dimensional and Transdiagnostic Approaches to Advance Mental Health Research
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Augmenting exposure therapy: International collaboration and technological innovation for specific phobia
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: What are the 3 levels of autism?
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: How to reach out when someone you know may be at risk of suicide
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Five questions for Michael Kraus
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Meeting the demand for services
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Preparing for leadership
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Benefits of virtual psychotherapy groups for students during COVID-19
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Airbnb launches inclusive virtual experiences for neurodiverse guests
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Video » NIMH Expert Dr. Mary Rooney Discusses Bipolar Disorder in Adolescents and Young Adults
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Blog Post » One Year of Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics, and Anticipating New Challenges