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Babies' Brains Know More Than We Thought!
2 Feb
Summary
- Infants as young as two months can distinguish between object categories.
- Brain scans revealed infant cognitive abilities earlier than expected.
- New fMRI techniques offered more precise insights into infant brains.
New findings indicate that babies as young as two months old can differentiate between various objects, a capability scientists previously believed emerged later. This research, utilizing advanced functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), offers deeper insights into infant cognitive development. The study observed brain activity in 130 two-month-olds as they viewed images from common categories like animals and trees.
Researchers found distinct brain responses when babies saw living versus inanimate objects. This sophisticated cognitive function was evident in two-month-olds, with even stronger distinctions observed in the same infants when they were re-scanned at nine months old. The innovative fMRI approach allowed for more precise examination than earlier methods that relied on observing how long an infant looked at an item.
Lead author Cliona O'Doherty highlighted that these findings suggest infants interact with their environment in more complex ways than previously assumed. Making the fMRI experience comfortable for infants was key to data collection. The technique involved reclining babies on bean bags within the scanner, with images displayed large above them, akin to an 'IMAX for babies.'
