Year: 2012
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Newborn children show an instant attraction and attention towards the faces surrounding them.This keen interest in faces stays throughout our lives.The current study investigated infant's event-related potentials (ERP) in response to familiar versus novel female faces.In addition the relation between the familiarity effect and measures of cognitive, motoric, and socio-emotional development was assessed by means of checklists and behavioral tests.Four key findings appeared: 1) Peak amplitude over the left Nc differed between the familiar and the novel face, the difference being larger for the former; 2) Peak amplitude over the right PSW differed between the familiar and novel face, the difference being larger for the latter; 3) Left Nc activation was negatively correlated with cognitive and motoric development; 4) Left PSW activation was positively correlated with socio-emotional development.These findings indicate that there is a relation between infants face processing and several behavioral measures.The results are discussed in relation to the complex development during the first year of life.This research gives insight into several possible mediators of the development of the face processing system.Uncovering these mediators is important for population groups at risk for atypical development.It may aid health care workers to spot infants at risk, as well as aiding the creation of therapies and intervention programs.
Author: Tone Kristine Hermansen
Language: English
Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2471698216