Book 10, Question 58
Why Can Babies Read Faces Before They Can Talk?
Babies can read faces before they can talk because they are born paying close attention to faces! Your face muscles show feelings that other people can read. It is a social language older than texting.
More fun facts
- A brain area called the fusiform face area helps us recognize faces.
- Scientists found this face area already working in babies as young as two months old.
- Researchers scanned the brains of 42 babies, aged two to nine months, using a special helmet scanner.
- One scientist says babies seem to be born expecting and looking for the important people in their lives.
- Newborns can only focus on things about 20 to 30 centimeters away, so getting close helps them see your face.
- Babies learn about language by watching mouths move and matching the movements to sounds.
Sources: Scientific American, BBC
Questions kids ask
Why do babies stare at faces?
Something in their brains makes them interested in faces even before they have much experience with them.