The Cambridge Baby Study

Aims:

The Cambridge Baby Study aims to explore whether there are sex differences in newborn social attention, and whether these early attentional preferences are associated with parental characteristics and future developmental outcomes.

Background:

Previous research has shown that there are on-average sex differences in behaviour and cognition. For instance, on average, females show advantages in understanding and responding to others people’s emotions (i.e., “empathising”), whereas males show advantages in understanding systems or patterns (i.e., “systemising”). Studies have also indicated that these on-average differences can be observed very early on in development. Connellan et al. (2000) have previously reported that, on average, female newborns look longer at faces, while male newborns look longer at non-social objects. The Cambridge Baby Study assesses the replicability of these prior findings, and also extends the research to explore whether these early looking preferences are linked with parental characteristics and future outcomes.

Method:

Newborns’ gaze preferences for social and non-social objects are assessed within the first 2 days of birth at the Rosie Maternity Hospital. The same cohort of infants is followed up at age 18 months to assess future characteristics and developmental outcomes.

Results:

These will be updated when the study is complete.

Importance:

It remains unclear whether behavioural and cognitive sex differences are primarily a result of how males and females are brought up or if they might partially be present from birth. While the Connellan et al. (2000) study has provided important insight into the area, it is important to assess the replicability of these findings.

Relevance:

Sex differences are present in the prevalence and presentation of various neurodevelopmental and psychiatric conditions. A better understanding of early sex differences might help to understand why this is the case.

Funding:

Staff:

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