The distribution of visual attention in infants

In this study, the relationships between the length, number, and distribution of looks were investigated. To this end, 5-, 7-, and 9-month-old infants were familiarized for 24 or 36 s with two identical geometric forms and tested with a novel form paired with the familiar one. The distribution of individual looks to different portions of the display were monitored. At all ages, infants who had briefer looks (short lookers) demonstrated more broadly distributed looks than long lookers; they showed more looks, more shifts, and inspection of more stimulus areas. Also, the greater numbers of shifts exhibited by short lookers included more horizontal, vertical, and diagonal shifts than long lookers. During the test trials, short lookers, primarily in the 5- and 9-month sample, demonstrated greater novelty preference. Data from this study suggest that the distribution of attention is related to short and long looking as is found when visual attention is assessed at a micro level (e.g., Bronson, 1991).