Toddler awareness tracked
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Toddlers might be more socially savvy than once thought, new research suggests.
A recent study reveals that children as young as three years old have brains capable of processing social interactions, an ability previously believed to develop later in childhood.
According to the international study involving 122 children between the ages of three and 12, and 33 adults, children begin developing neural responses to social situations from an early age, with brain activity resembling that of adults by the age of seven.
The research, led by neuroscientist Leyla Isik from Johns Hopkins University, recorded the brain activity of young children as they watched a socially rich, animated movie.
Using fMRI scans to observe these responses, researchers found that a specific area of the brain, the superior temporal sulcus (STS) - a region known in adults for processing social cues - was active in children as young as three years old.
Interestingly, the STS responses even appeared adult-like by the age of seven.
The team employed a model that predicted brain activity associated with engagement in the film, measuring responses to elements such as visual and social cues, including facial recognition and social interaction sequences.
The model’s results showed that three-year-olds were already responsive to social aspects of the film.
By the age of seven, children’s brain activity became distinctly adult-like, suggesting a rapid development in social perception and reasoning skills during early childhood.
The findings provide important insights into how social skills develop from a young age, potentially influencing future approaches to educational methods and socialisation in early childhood.
The full study is accessible here.
