Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 11, 2025

A Within-subjects Experimental Protocol to Assess the Effects of Social Input on Infant EEG
08:20

A Within-subjects Experimental Protocol to Assess the Effects of Social Input on Infant EEG

Published on: May 3, 2017

7.9K

Neural Foundations of Joint Attention in Infancy

Alleyne P R Broomell1, Nina Andre1, Leslie A Patton2

  • 1Department of Psychology, Western Carolina University.

Cognitive Development
|August 11, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Early brain activity in infants predicts later social skills. Frontal electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns at 6 months are linked to social interaction abilities at 12 months, aiding early detection.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Infant Behavior

Background:

  • Early social development is linked to brain maturation, particularly the prefrontal cortex and attention networks.
  • The relationship between early neural activity and later social behavior in the first year of life remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how frontal electroencephalogram (EEG) power and frontotemporal EEG coherence at 6 months predict social behavior at 12 months.
  • To explore the predictive value of baseline and task-related EEG measures for social interaction skills.

Main Methods:

  • Electroencephalogram (EEG) was used to measure frontal brain electrical activity (power) and frontotemporal coherence in 6-month-old infants.
  • EEG data were analyzed at baseline and during a social task.
  • Infants' social behaviors, including initiating and responding to joint attention, were assessed at 12 months.

Main Results:

  • Frontotemporal EEG coherence and frontal EEG power at 6 months predicted the ability to initiate joint attention at 12 months.
  • Changes in frontal EEG power from baseline to a social task at 6 months also predicted initiating joint attention at 12 months.
  • Changes in frontotemporal coherence during a social task at 6 months predicted the ability to respond to joint attention at 12 months.

Conclusions:

  • Early brain function, specifically frontal EEG activity and coherence, is foundational for the development of social behavior.
  • These findings suggest that infant EEG measures could potentially be used for the early detection of social development differences.

Keywords:
EEGInfantdevelopmentjoint attentionsocial behavior

More Related Videos

A Methodology for Capturing Joint Visual Attention Using Mobile Eye-Trackers12:39

A Methodology for Capturing Joint Visual Attention Using Mobile Eye-Trackers

Published on: January 18, 2020

7.8K
Gaze in Action: Head-mounted Eye Tracking of Children's Dynamic Visual Attention During Naturalistic Behavior07:09

Gaze in Action: Head-mounted Eye Tracking of Children's Dynamic Visual Attention During Naturalistic Behavior

Published on: November 14, 2018

10.8K

Related Concept Videos

Socioemotional Development during Infancy01:30

Socioemotional Development during Infancy

Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
116
The Nativist Approach01:21

The Nativist Approach

The nativist approach to infant cognitive development proposes that infants are born with inherent knowledge structures that allow them to interpret the world almost immediately. This perspective contrasts with earlier developmental theories, such as those proposed by Jean Piaget, which emphasized a more gradual acquisition of cognitive abilities through interaction with the environment. One key concept in this approach is object permanence — the understanding that objects continue to...
128
The Anchoring-and-Adjustment Heuristic01:25

The Anchoring-and-Adjustment Heuristic

In order to make good decisions, we use our knowledge and our reasoning. Often, this knowledge and reasoning is sound and solid. However, sometimes, we are swayed by biases or by others manipulating a situation. For example, let’s say you and three friends wanted to rent a house and had a combined target budget of $1,600. The realtor shows you only very run-down houses for $1,600 and then shows you a very nice house for $2,000. Might you ask each person to pay more in rent to get the...
7.4K
Observational Learning01:12

Observational Learning

Albert Bandura's observational learning, also known as imitation or modeling, occurs when a person observes and imitates another's behavior. It is a quicker process than operant conditioning. A well-known example is the Bobo doll study, where children who saw an adult acting aggressively towards the doll were more likely to act aggressively when left alone, compared to those who observed a nonaggressive adult. Many psychologists view observational learning as a form of latent learning...
312
Gestalt Principles of Perception01:21

Gestalt Principles of Perception

Gestalt principles provide a framework for understanding how humans perceive objects as unified wholes within their context. These principles are essential in explaining the cognitive processes that make sense of complex visual stimuli by organizing them into coherent groups. One fundamental principle is proximity, which posits that objects located close to each other are perceived as a collective group. For instance, when dots are positioned near one another, the visual system interprets them...
439
Facial Feedback Hypothesis01:24

Facial Feedback Hypothesis

Charles Darwin proposed that facial expressions are an evolutionary adaptation for communication. He argued that these expressions are not influenced by culture but are universal across species. For example, a snarling expression with exposed teeth signals a threat in many animals, including humans. Darwin also suggested that displaying an emotion can intensify the feeling. Smiling, for example, could enhance one's sense of happiness. This idea laid the foundation for understanding the role...
246