婴儿面孔和注视方向加工的认知神经机制

Neural mechanisms of face and gaze processing in infants

面孔和注视方向是人际交往中重要的社会线索。探讨婴儿特别是新生儿对面孔和注视方向的加工,有助于深入理解人类社交能力的起源及发展过程。回顾前人研究我们发现:0~28日龄的新生儿普遍表现出对人类面孔和直视的偏好,3月龄的婴儿开始表现出对他人目光的注视追随能力。脑观测研究发现3月龄以上的婴儿对面孔和注视加工具有与成人类似的脑神经表现。未来研究可以采用多种脑观测(特别是新型脑磁图)技术进一步考察新生儿的面孔偏好、直视偏好以及婴儿的注视追随现象,揭示婴儿对人类面孔和眼睛注视加工先天优势的神经基础及其受后天经验影响的认知机制。

Faces and gaze direction are essential cues in interpersonal interactions.Examining how infants,especially newborns,process faces and gaze direction enhances our understanding of the origins and development of human social abilities.A review of existing literature shows that neonates(0~28 days old)generally prefer human faces and direct gaze,while infants around 3 months old begin to follow gaze direction.Brain imaging studies have revealed that infants older than 3 months exhibit neural responses to faces and gaze processing similar to those of adults.Future research could further explore neonatal preference for face and direct gaze,as well as gaze following in infants,using various brain imaging techniques,particularly novel magnetoencephalography,to uncover the neural basis of infants'innate sensitivity to human faces and eye gaze,and the cognitive mechanisms influenced by acquired experience.