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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 7, 2026

A Novel Experimental and Analytical Approach to the Multimodal Neural Decoding of Intent During Social Interaction in Freely-behaving Human Infants

A Novel Experimental and Analytical Approach to the Multimodal Neural Decoding of Intent During Social Interaction in Freely-behaving Human Infants

Published on: October 4, 2015

Young children use conversational timing as a cue for prosocial commitment.

Yingjia Wan^1,2,3, Dannuo Lyu^1,2, Liqi Zhu^1,2,4,5

¹State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Science and Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.

Child Development

|July 6, 2026

Summary

Young children learn to infer speaker intentions from conversational timing. Around 51 months, they use response delays to judge willingness to help and friend preference, linked to Theory of Mind development.

Keywords:

conversational timing inference inter-turn interval rhythmic ability theory of mind turn-taking

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Last Updated: Jul 7, 2026

A Novel Experimental and Analytical Approach to the Multimodal Neural Decoding of Intent During Social Interaction in Freely-behaving Human Infants

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Published on: April 6, 2018

Area of Science:

Developmental Psychology
Cognitive Science
Linguistics

Background:

Adults interpret inter-turn intervals (ITIs) to understand speakers.
Understanding conversational timing is crucial for social cognition.

Purpose of the Study:

Investigate the emergence of social inference abilities based on ITI duration in young children.
Determine the age at which children use response timing to make social judgments.
Explore the relationship between ITI-based inferences, rhythmic abilities, and Theory of Mind.

Main Methods:

Children (41-77 months) watched vignettes with varying response delays (600 ms vs. 4000 ms).
Participants judged responders' willingness to help and friend preference.
An ITI discrimination task assessed perception of timing differences.
Theory of Mind and rhythmic ability were also assessed.

Main Results:

Older children (≥51 months) were more likely to infer negative traits from slow responses.
Children could discriminate ITI durations early but social inference developed later.
ITI-based inferences correlated with Theory of Mind, not rhythmic ability.

Conclusions:

Children's ability to use conversational timing for social inference emerges around 51-53 months.
Early perception of timing does not guarantee social interpretation.
Theory of Mind development is a key factor in understanding social cues from response delays.