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Updated: Jul 30, 2025
Infant Auditory Processing and Event-related Brain Oscillations
Published on: July 1, 2015
Electrophysiological Evidence for Interhemispheric Connectivity and Communication in Young Human Infants
Marc H Bornstein1,2,3, Clay Mash1,4, Roberto Romero1,5,6
1Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, 8404 Irvington Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Infant brain hemispheres communicate early, showing distinct responses to familiar vs. novel stimuli. This EEG study reveals interhemispheric connectivity in 4-month-olds, enhancing understanding of infant brain development.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Limited empirical data exists on early brain hemisphere connectivity and communication.
- Theoretical views on interhemispheric communication in infants often conflict with anatomical evidence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate brain activity related to interhemispheric information transfer in young infants.
- To provide initial empirical evidence on early brain hemisphere connectivity and communication.
Main Methods:
- Electroencephalography (EEG) data analyzed from 12 four-month-old infants.
- Utilized a face-related oddball event-related potential (ERP) protocol to assess brain responses.
Main Results:
- Infants' contralateral hemisphere activity differed significantly between odd-same and odd-difference trials.
- The response in the contralateral hemisphere was weaker for odd-different stimuli compared to odd-same stimuli.
- Demonstrated that the infant brain can recognize familiar stimuli and discriminate novel ones across hemispheres.
Conclusions:
- Provides evidence for functional interhemispheric connectivity and communication in the first year of life.
- Enhances understanding of the functional integrity of the developing human infant brain.
- Suggests early hemispheric specialization and integration in processing visual information.
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