We all know that babies love people. But how do babies get so good at interacting with others, so early in life? The ability to engage with other people in real time is a foundational skill that begins in the first year of life. During this time, babies develop social abilities extraordinarily quickly. This study is interested in how the body and mind are linked in these early months to help support this progression.
More specifically, two important systems are developing very rapidly in the first year of life: infants are learning to engage with others and how to regulate their own bodies and minds. We think that these two systems might work together, especially when children are very young.
Once the study is up and running, eligible parents will be invited to the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities Campus) for a 45-minute visit to the lab with their 7-to 9-month-old infant. Parent and infant will do a short social interaction task while we measure heart-rate information and collect video data. The parent will also complete some questionnaires and receive a gift card for their participation.
By understanding how babies coordinate their bodies and minds to interact with others, we will gain a better understanding of the basic processes important for early social engagement. This new information may ultimately help scientists and clinicians promote critical social competencies early in life.