Article
Infant interest expressions as coordinative motor structures
Infant Behavior and Development
(1992)
Abstract
Two opposing facial actions, raised and knit (contracted) brows, have been considered expressions of the unitary emotion of interest. We examined differential relationships between these brow actions and accompanying head, eye, arm, and other facial movements in 5- and 7-month-old infants who were videotaped as toys were presented above or below eye level. Raised-brow movements significantly co-occurred with head-up and/or eyes-up movements for both ages. Knit-brows co-occurred with eyes-down at 5 months and head-down at 7 months. Frequency of arm movements was not systematically related to head, eye, or brow movements. Muscles that move the brows can be recruited when young infants move their head and/or eyes. Therefore, converging sources of evidence are needed before interest can be inferred from the brow actions of infants.
Keywords
- infant,
- facial expression,
- motor coordination,
- emotion,
- interest
Disciplines
Publication Date
1992
DOI
10.1016/0163-6383(92)80004-E
Citation Information
George F. Michel, Linda A. Camras and Jean Sullivan. "Infant interest expressions as coordinative motor structures" Infant Behavior and Development Vol. 15 Iss. 3 (1992) p. 347 - 358 ISSN: 0163-6383 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/linda_camras/41/