The recognition of human body shape in infancy. (2002)

Newborn infants have expectations about human faces and it is hypothesised that this early knowledge allows them to identify and begin to engage with other humans. While faces are central to identification of and communication with others, human bodies are also highly informative and expressive, yet to date there is almost no research on infants expectations about human bodies. This proposal details six studies that will systematically explore and document the development of infants expectations about human bodies, and will further test the theory that infants earliest social interactions are dependent upon representations of the human face and body.''