Frontiers in Psychology (Nov 2017)

Development of Attention to Faces during the First 3 Years: Influences of Stimulus Type

  • Klaus Libertus,
  • Rebecca J. Landa,
  • Rebecca J. Landa,
  • Joshua L. Haworth

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01976
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8

Abstract

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The development of attention toward faces was explored during the first 3 years of life in 54 children aged between 3 and 36 months. In contrast to previous research, attention to faces was assessed using both static images and a dynamic video sequence in the same participants. Separate analyses at each age and exploratory longitudinal analyses indicate a preference for faces during the first year, followed by a decline during the second year. These results suggest that attention to faces does not follow a linear increasing pattern over development, and that social attention patterns are influenced by stimulus characteristics.

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