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Smiling in newborns during communicative wake and active sleep
Marco Cecchini1, Eleonora Baroni, Cinzia Di Vito
1Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, University of Rome Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
Infant Behavior & Development
|April 29, 2011
Summary
Newborns exhibit different smiles during wake and sleep. Tactile communication influences the type and frequency of these infant smiles, suggesting a social meaning even in newborns.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal behavior
- Infant psychology
- Developmental neuroscience
Background:
- Infant smiling is well-studied, with social smiles recognized in two-month-olds.
- Limited understanding exists regarding newborn smiling differences between wakefulness and sleep.
- The impact of communicative context on newborn smiles remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if different communication types affect newborn smile quantity and quality.
- To compare smiling behavior during interactive wakefulness (IW) and active sleep (AS).
- To determine if newborn smiles during IW possess a social meaning.
Main Methods:
- 40 newborns were studied, divided into four groups based on tactile communication (continuous, discontinuous periodic, discontinuous non-periodic, absent).
- Smiling behavior was recorded during interactive wakefulness (IW) and active sleep (AS).
- The ratio of open/closed mouth smiles (social/non-social) was analyzed across conditions and groups.
Main Results:
- The overall open/closed mouth smile ratio was 38/5 during IW versus 1/28 during AS (p < .001).
- Significant differences in smile ratios were observed among the four communication groups.
- Tactile communication significantly affected the amount and quality of newborn smiles during both IW and AS.
Conclusions:
- Newborn smiling behavior differs significantly between active sleep and interactive wakefulness.
- The type of tactile communication influences the characteristics of newborn smiles.
- Morphological differences suggest newborn smiles during interactive wakefulness may carry social significance, similar to older infants.
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