A5024956660- Face Recognition and Perception
- Child and Animal Learning Development
- Visual perception and processing mechanisms
- Multisensory perception and integration
- Face recognition and analysis
- Spatial Cognition and Navigation
- Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
- Action Observation and Synchronization
- Advancements in Transdermal Drug Delivery
- Educational and Social Studies
- Infant Health and Development
- Cognitive and developmental aspects of mathematical skills
- Infant Development and Preterm Care
- Categorization, perception, and language
- Dermatology and Skin Diseases
- Contact Dermatitis and Allergies
- Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Spatial Neglect and Hemispheric Dysfunction
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Management, Economics, and Public Policy
- Tactile and Sensory Interactions
- Child Development and Digital Technology
- Animal testing and alternatives
- Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Hemispheric Asymmetry in Neuroscience
University of Padua
2016-2025
Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems
2015
Birkbeck, University of London
2002
University of Miami
1998
University of Pennsylvania
1995
Colgate-Palmolive (United States)
1984-1994
Vanderbilt University
1982-1989
University of Parma
1979-1988
Colgate-Palmolive (Switzerland)
1984
University of Leeds
1982
Making eye contact is the most powerful mode of establishing a communicative link between humans. During their first year life, infants learn rapidly that looking behaviors others conveys significant information. Two experiments were carried out to demonstrate special sensitivity direct from birth. The experiment tested ability 2- 5-day-old newborns discriminate and averted gaze. In second experiment, we measured 4-month-old infants' brain electric activity assess neural processing faces...
An inborn predisposition to attend biological motion has long been theorized, but had so far demonstrated only in one animal species (the domestic chicken). In particular, no preference for was reported human infants of <3 months age. We tested 2-day-old babies' discrimination after familiarization and their spontaneous preferences vs. nonbiological point-light animations. Newborns were shown be able discriminate between two different patterns (Exp. 1) and, when first exposed them,...
Four experiments are reported that were aimed at elucidating some of the controversial issues concerning preference for facelike patterns in newborns. The devised to contrast original and revised versions sensory hypothesis structural as accounts face Experiments 1A 1B supported by showing a visual stimulus which components located correct arrangement human face. Experiment 2 stimuli designed have optimal spatial frequency newborn system. 3 showed babies directed attention pattern also when...
This study examined newborns' face preference using images of natural and scrambled faces in which the location inner features was distorted. The results demonstrate that is not confined to schematic configurations, but can be obtained also with veridical faces. Moreover, this phenomenon produced by a specific bias toward geometry, derives from domain-general configurations more elements upper than lower half (i.e., top-heavy patterns). These suggest it may unnecessary assume existence...
Three experiments were carried out with 4 to 5-month-old infants using the eye gaze cueing paradigm of Hood, Willen, and Driver (1998). Experiment 1 replicated previous finding that are faster make saccades peripheral targets cued by direction a central face. However, results 2, in which pupils stimulus face stayed still while was displaced same extent as 1, revealed under these conditions motion rather than gaze. This conclusion confirmed 3 effect not obtained similar those except there no...
The present study addresses the hypothesis that detection of biological motion is an intrinsic capacity visual system guided by a non-species-specific predisposition for pattern vertebrate movement and investigates role global vs. local information in detection. Two-day-old babies exposed to point-light display (depicting walking hen) non-biological (a rotating rigid object) preferentially looked at (Experiment 1). A new group newborns showed themselves be capable discriminating, following...
Existing data indicate that newborns are able to recognize individual faces, but little is known about what perceptual cues drive this ability. The current study showed either the inner or outer features of face can act as sufficient for newborns' recognition (Experiment 1), part enjoys an advantage over 2). Inversion stimuli disrupted when only portion was shown, not whole fully visible were presented 3). results enhance our picture information actually process and encode they discriminate,...
Three experiments investigated whether the presence of more elements in upper part a configuration (i.e., up-down asymmetry) plays role determining newborns' preference for facelike patterns. Newborns preferred nonfacelike stimulus with over lower (Experiment 1), did not show equated number 2), and located portion pattern 3). Results demonstrated that asymmetry is crucial face preference.
The relationship between the in vivo irritation potential of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and linear alkyl benzene sulfonate (LAS) ability these two surfactants to remove lipid from stratum corneum (SC) vitro were investigated. Either surfactant removes detectable levels lipids only above its critical micelle concentration (CMC). At high concentrations removed very small amounts cholesterol, free fatty acid, esters those materials, possibly squalene. SLS LAS have been shown, below CMC, bind...
Previous studies have shown that infants, including newborns, can match previously unseen and unheard human faces vocalizations. More recently, it has been reported infants as young 4 months of age also the vocalizations other species raising possibility such broad multisensory perceptual tuning is present at birth. To test this possiblity, we investigated whether newborns monkey facial vocal gestures. Using a paired preference procedure, in Experiment 1 presented pairs different visible...
The present study investigates the human-specificity of orienting system that allows neonates to look preferentially at faces. Three experiments were carried out determine whether face-perception is birth broad enough include both human and nonhuman primate results demonstrate newborns did not show any spontaneous visual preference for face when presented simultaneously with a monkey shared same features, configuration, low-level perceptual properties (Experiment 1). were, however, able...
Abstract Humans represent numbers on a mental number line with smaller the left and larger right side. A left‐to‐right oriented spatial–numerical association, ( SNA ), has been demonstrated in animals infants. However, possibility that is learnt by early exposure to caregivers’ directional biases still open. We conducted two experiments: Experiment 1, we tested whether present at birth 2, studied it depends relative rather than absolute magnitude of numerousness. Fifty‐five‐hour‐old...
Abstract Some key behavioural traits of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) have been hypothesized to be due impairments in the early activation subcortical orienting mechanisms, which typical development bias newborns orient relevant social visual stimuli. A challenge testing this hypothesis is that autism usually not diagnosed until a child at least 3 years old. Here, we circumvented difficulty by studying for very first time, predispositions pay attention stimuli with high familial risk...
Abstract Self‐propelled motion is a powerful cue that conveys information an object animate. In this case, animate refers to entity's capacity initiate without applied external force. Sensitivity present in infants are few months old, but whether sensitivity experience‐dependent or already at birth unknown. Here, we tested newborns examine predispositions process self‐produced cues underlying animacy perception were soon after birth. We systematically manipulated the onset of by...
Two experiments were conducted to test whether newborns could discriminate between their own cry and the of another newborn infant. Facial behavior nonnutritive sucking rate adopted as dependent measures. In Experiment 1, 20 in an awake state presented with either or latter condition, showed facial expression distress more frequently for a longer duration. addition, decreased significantly pretest phase 1st min presentation infant's cry. Newborns' responses, although delayed less intense,...
The present study was aimed at investigating whether, because of a differential sensitivity between the upper and lower visual fields, in preference task newborns would orient more frequently look longer patterns with great number high–contrast areas or field. Newborns were presented three pairs geometrical stimuli, each composed pattern greater elements part part. results showed reliable for stimuli that had than evidence obtained suggests possibility that, birth, visibility stimulus...
Abstract Many studies have demonstrated that newborns prefer upright faces over upside‐down faces. Based on this evidence, some suggested represent a special class of stimuli for and there is qualitative difference between the processes involved in perception facelike non‐facelike patterns (i.e. structural hypothesis). Others suggest no reason to suppose are different from other patterns, because faces, like any visual stimuli, subject filtering by properties system sensory The core question...