Infant attention is under exogenous influence in early social interaction

• In Event: Recognising and shaping opportunities for learning: neurocognitive insight into active learning in early infancy

Abstract

Infants learn better where their behavioural cues are responded to (Goldstein et al., 2010). This strongly suggests that internally driven mechanisms guide infant attention in early interaction. Yet, micro-coding infant and adult gaze during joint play indicates the opposite; that infant attention is under exogenous influence, with adult gaze increasing infant attentiveness (Yu & Smith, 2016). Recording EEG during naturalistic interactions, this study compared infant neural activity around moments of infant- and adult-initiated attention. It was hypothesised that if endogenous mechanisms determine where infants initiate attention, increased theta power would occur proceeding look onset, compared to where attention was adult-led. We further investigated the effect of adult intervention on infant attention and neural activity, hypothesising increased theta activity in the time period after the adult joined an infant-led look.

We recorded dual 32-channel EEG from infants and parents whilst they engaged in joint table-top-play with 3 toys. Gaze behaviour was recorded and synchronised with the EEG signal. Thirty-one participants contributed data (mean infant age=10.74 months, SD=1.15).

Infant-led attention included looks where infants gazed towards objects with which the adult was not already engaged; infant-follower attention defined moments infants joined their parents’ look towards an object. To compare neural activity before these looks, EEG power (1-16Hz) 2000ms before and after look onset was extracted using a continuous Morlet wavelet transform, and averaged over fronto-central electrodes. Cluster-based permutation analysis (Maris & Oostenveld, 2007) identified clusters of time-frequency points showing significantly different power between infant-leader and -follower looks

To investigate the influence of adult intervention, we categorised infant-led looks into those that resulted in concurrent attention (where parents joined the look) and those that did not. The time the Mum joined looks for looks resulting in concurrent attention was identified. Non-concurrent looks were subsequently matched for the time the Mum joined infant attention in a concurrent look. EEG power 2000ms before and after Mum look onset was extracted and compared using cluster-based permutation analysis.

Time-frequency plots showing infant EEG activity before and after infant-leader and infant-follower looks are presented in Figure 2. Contrary to predictions, cluster-based permutation revealed no significant clusters (all ps>0.05), indicating no difference in theta activity before look-onset.

Next, we explored the effect of adult intervention on infant attention and neural activity. Infant-led looks resulting in non-concurrent attention (M=1.98), were significantly shorter than those resulting in concurrent attention (M=9.58; p<0.001), indicating episodes of concurrent attention extended infant attention. Comparing EEG activity before and after the onset of concurrent attention in infant-led looks the adult joined, with looks the adult did not join, revealed no significant clusters at theta or alpha frequencies (all ps>0.05).

Findings do not indicate differences in neural activity before infant- vs. adult-initiated attention. We replicate that adult gaze increases infant attentiveness; but this was not neurocognitively substantiated. Results are consistent with a reduced association between infant attention and brain activity during joint, compared to solo play (Wass et al., 2018). Exogenous influence need not mean passive attention, however; how infants process information through exogenous capture is discussed.

Authors

• Emily A M Phillips, University of East London
  Presenting Author

• Megan Whitehorn, University of East London
  Non-Presenting Author

• Ira Marriott Haresign, University of East London
  Non-Presenting Author

• Victoria Leong, Nanyang Technological University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Sam V Wass, University of East London
  Non-Presenting Author