New Insights into Newborns’ Attention Span: Girls and Faces
Recent findings from the University of Cambridge reveal intriguing differences in how newborn boys and girls allocate their attention. The study discovered that while both genders show a preference for faces over moving objects, newborn girls tend to focus slightly more on faces compared to their male counterparts.
Conducted by Tobias Grossman, head of the University of Virginia’s Baby Lab, the research offers fresh perspectives on early human development. Grossman elaborated on the findings in a discussion with UVA Today.
Face Time: What the Study Revealed
From the very first hours after birth, human infants are naturally drawn to faces. The study measured this attraction, finding that on average, newborns looked at a face for 32.0 seconds compared to 24.8 seconds spent on a moving object.
Gender Differences in Attention
When analyzing the differences between the sexes, the study noted that girls looked at faces for about 33.2 seconds, while boys did so for 30.9 seconds. These differences, though present, were not statistically significant. When it came to objects, girls spent around 22.9 seconds, and boys 26.5 seconds, again showing no reliable difference.
The real distinction emerged when examining how each gender divided their attention between the two stimuli. Girls dedicated 58.5% of their visual attention to faces, whereas boys spent 51.2% of their time looking at faces. This indicates that girls showed a stronger preference for faces, while boys distributed their attention more evenly between faces and objects, without a particular preference for objects.
Possible Explanations Beyond Hormones
While prenatal hormones like testosterone could potentially explain these differences, the study did not measure hormonal levels or brain structures. The authors suggest that other factors could also account for the observed behaviors.
It is a carefully done study of a very hard-to-test age group.
One alternative explanation is related to maturity. Evidence suggests that newborn girls may be slightly more developmentally advanced than boys, which could enhance their ability to process complex stimuli like faces. Indeed, girls in the study were more likely to complete the test on their first attempt.
Comparison with Previous Research
The new study also contrasts with a notable 2000 study from the same Cambridge lab. The previous work suggested that newborn girls preferred faces, while boys favored mechanical mobiles. However, methodological differences, such as the use of a live experimenter as a stimulus, drew criticism. The recent study addresses these concerns, offering a more refined approach to understanding a challenging age group.
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