Selective Medial Prefrontal Cortex Responses During Live Mutual Gaze Interactions in Human Infants: An fNIRS Study.

摘要: To investigate the role of prefrontal cortex (PFC) in processing multimodal communicative ostensive signals infants, we measured cerebral hemodynamic responses by using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) during social interactive play "peek-a-boo", which both visual (direct gaze) and auditory (infant-directed speech) stimuli were presented. The infants (mean age, around 7 months) sat on their mother's lap, equipped with an NIRS head cap, looked at a partner's face "peek-a-boo". An eye-tracking system simultaneously monitored infants' fixation patterns. results indicate that, when partner presented direct gaze, rather than averted toward infant play, fixated eye region for longer duration. Furthermore, activity increased more prominently dorsomedial (mPFC) response to gaze compared gaze. In contrast, right dorsolateral (R-lPFC) regardless direction. These that shifts infant's attention eyes communication, specifically activates mPFC. differences between mPFC R-lPFC suggest functional differentiation within PFC, specific perception face-to-face especially mutual is essential interaction.