Development of multimodal attention in young infants: Modification of the startle reflex by attention

Journal/Book: Psychophysiology. 2000; 37: 40 West 20Th Street, New York, NY 10011-4211, USA. Cambridge Univ Press. 65-75.

Abstract: This study examined the effect of attention engagement to compound auditory-visual stimuli on the modification of the startle blink reflex in infants. Infants at 8, 14, 20, or 26 weeks of age were presented with interesting audiovisual stimuli. After stimulus onset, at delays defined by heart rate changes known to be associated with sustained attention or attention disengagement, blink reflexes were elicited by visual or auditory stimuli. Blink amplitude to either visual ol auditory stimuli was enhanced when the infants were engaged in attention to the foreground auditory-visual stimuli relative to control trials with no foreground patterns. This enhancement of the blink amplitude increased from 8 to 26 weeks of age. In contrast to selective modality enhancement for single-modality foreground stimuli, these results show that these multimodal stimuli engage both visual and auditory attention systems in this age range.

Note: Article Richards JE, Univ S Carolina, Dept Psychol, Columbia,SC 29208 USA

Keyword(s): infants; attention; heart rate; blink reflex; multimodal stimuli; AUDITORY-VISUAL COMPOUNDS; SELECTIVE ATTENTION; VISIBLE PROPERTIES; SENSORY DOMINANCE; HUMAN FACE; BLINK; MODULATION; MECHANISMS; DESIGNS; PERIOD

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