Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2025

A Within-subjects Experimental Protocol to Assess the Effects of Social Input on Infant EEG
Published on: May 3, 2017
Variability in infant social responsiveness: Age and situational differences in attention-following
Yueyan Tang1, Jochen Triesch2, Gedeon O Deák1
1Department of Cognitive Science, University of California - San Diego, USA.
Abstract:
Attention following (AF) is a cornerstone of social cognitive development and a longstanding topic of infancy research. However, there is conflicting evidence regarding the development of AF. One reason for discrepant findings could be that infants' AF responses do not generalize across settings, and are influenced by situational factors. Theories of AF development based on data collected in laboratory paradigms might skew our understanding of infants' everyday AF. To reveal more generalizable patterns of infant AF development, we compared healthy, North American infants' (N = 48) AF developmental trajectories between a controlled laboratory paradigm and a naturalistic, home-based, parent-directed paradigm. Longitudinal micro-behavioral coding was analyzed to compare individual infants' AF between the two settings every month from 6 to 9 months of age. We aimed to (1) examine longitudinal development of infant AF in two settings; (2) compare AF development between settings, and (3) explore differences in adult cueing behaviors that influence AF. We found that longitudinal trajectories of AF differed between home and lab, with more AF at home in earlier months. Additionally, AF at home was related to maternal cueing variables including bid duration and frequency. These results have implications for the assessment of infants' developing social attention behaviors.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Attachment
Socioemotional Development during Infancy
Primary Temperament Types
Piaget's Stage 1 of Cognitive Development
Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood
Autism Spectrum Disorder
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
Naturalistic Observations

