Researchers from the University of Washington’s Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences have discovered that interacting and talking with young infants measurably boosts their language development. The study, published in April’s Current Biology, details how a team used noninvasive brain imaging to monitor the brain activity of infants during both social and nonsocial interactions.
They found that when babies were played with or talked to, activity in their brains rose in key regions responsible for attention, with higher levels positively corresponding to enhanced language abilities later down the line. These findings contrasted sharply with the activity levels observed in infants when they were exposed to nonsocial scenarios, such as an adult turning away from them to engage with someone else.
The trial, which followed the children who participated up until the age of 2.5 years provides strong evidence that regular interaction is essential to boost infant’s later language skills.
Source – Science Daily
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240408130604.htm