The perception of facial expressions in newborns

Abstract

The ability of newborns to discriminate and respond to different emotional facial expressions remains controversial. We conducted three experiments in which we tested newborns' preferences, and their ability to discriminate between neutral, fearful, and happy facial expressions, using visual preference and habituation procedures. In the first two experiments, no evidence was found that newborns discriminate, or show a preference between, a fearful and a neutral face. In the third experiment, newborns looked significantly longer at a happy facial expression than a fearful one. We raise the possibility that this preference reflects experience acquired over the first few days of life. These results show that at least some expressions are discriminated and preferred in newborns only a few days old.

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the MRC (Programme Grant G97 15587) to MJ and by Welcome Trust (073985/Z/03/Z) to TF.

The authors thank the parents and infants who participated in the study, Stefano Massaccesi for the help with the software, Tobias Grossman for discussion, and Katiuschia Pastrello for help in testing the infants. The authors are deeply indebted to the nursing staff at the Pediatric Unit of the Hospital of Monfalcone for their collaboration.