A research project which seeks to find out more about how babies learn and acquire knowledge has been set up.
The Babylab at the University of Manchester will look at the link between learning and temperament development in very young children.
The team will analyse how babies react to a series of patterns on computer screens and the way they play.
It is hoped the research may also aid in the understanding of developmental disorders in young children.
"We hope this will give us a window into the mind of babies before than can tell us about what they know and understand"
Research leader Dr Sylvain Sirois said his team will be focusing on the stage in a crucial stage in the babies' development.
It will look at the stage when the part of the brain which differentiates us from animals, the cortex, takes over from the middle brain in the first year of life.
"In particular a lot happens between five and six months of age, and we want to examine this further by looking at changes in everything from babies' perceptual learning to their temperament during this crucial period."
Dr Sirois says: "We hope this will give us a window into the mind of babies before than can tell us about what they know and understand."
He also hopes the research will provide key clues to the debate amongst psychologists about what is inherited and what is learned.
Patterns
The Babylab is asking parents to bring their babies forward to assist with the project.
The babies will be shown a series of patterns on a computer screen and monitored by the research team.
They will analyse the way they digest the images and look at what happens when the child gets bored.
He added: "Babies get bored relatively quickly when shown repeated inconsequential events, but they can start to display a renewed interest when events change.
"This is a sign they have learned and gives us a unique window into their mind - by manipulating what they see we can identify what they distinguish as different and monitor how this ability develops."
The researchers say the babies will stay with their parents all the time.
Volunteers willing to take part in the trials should contact Emma Wilson on 0161 275 1965
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