Eye Gaze Direction Influences Object Processing in 5-Month-Old Infants

Do 5-month-old infants show differences in processing objects as a function of a prior interaction with an adult? Using a live ERP paradigm we assessed this question utilizing a within subjects design. Infants saw objects during two pre-test phases with an adult experimenter. We recorded event-related potentials to the presentation of objects following the interactive pre-test phases. Experimental conditions differed only in the nature of eye contact between the infant and the experimenter during the pre-tests. In one condition the experimenter engaged the infant with direct eye contact. In a second condition, the experimenter looked only at the infant’s chest. We found that the Negative component, related to attentional processes, showed differences between experimental conditions in left fronto-central locations. These data show that 5-month-old infants allocate more attention towards objects that have been previously seen during direct eye contact interaction. In addition, these results clarify the functional nature of the Negative component