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New Study: Babies Can Recognize Emotion in Faces

telegraph.co.uk — Babies as young as four months are able to recognise emotions in people's faces, according to a new study. Scientists found that even before they start talking babies are able to pick up on "non-verbal" signals we use to communicate, such as the eyebrows being raised by a smile to indicate friendship.

Who dugg this? Made popular Aug 27, 2008

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  • WiseWeasel, on 08/27/2008, -3/+51Too bad they can't recognize the 'STFU and stop crying/babeling' expression, mistaking it for 'cry louder'...
  • selmer, on 08/27/2008, -7/+36Big deal...I recognize emotion in people's faces all the time.
  • peter78, on 08/27/2008, -1/+15If you have a baby or interact with babies, none of this is really new.

    It's quite obvious that babies understand facial expressions. When a baby looks at you, it will often pause to interpret your face (if you are new). If you smile or laugh, then they will smile. If you furrow your brow and make an angry or sad face, the baby will also grow sad. It's uncanny how babies can detect emotions through expressions (I learned all of this through my nephew).
  • prossi10, on 08/27/2008, -3/+15So can my dog.......
  • HastyBoom, on 08/27/2008, -4/+14Thought this was from the Onion.
  • RuyGuy, on 08/27/2008, -5/+15Newer study: adults don't give a ***** about this.
  • thestorey, on 08/27/2008, -0/+9Oh so that's why they smile back when i smile at them... No ***** .... D:
  • Bungleboss, on 08/27/2008, -0/+9As a father of several children, I would just like to say.." No *****, Sherlock"

    Plus, my dog farts bad looks.
  • ZenMojo, on 08/27/2008, -0/+9Because they know you're faking it.
  • blackfox026, on 08/27/2008, -1/+9maybe you shouldn't make fun of a 7 month old child
  • mentiepoo, on 08/28/2008, -0/+6New study: babies are human
  • wrathoftheafe, on 08/28/2008, -0/+5i dunno, if i ***** on myself in public i'd kinda expect to be made fun of
  • spoonchucks, on 08/28/2008, -1/+6+1 from another disillusioned parent.
  • TheJimid, on 08/27/2008, -1/+6Neglects to mention they pretend not to recognize quiet time face.....little haters.
  • TaintBrush, on 08/27/2008, -5/+10I like to shake them until their emotion-recognizing faces go blank.
  • Berkana, on 08/27/2008, -0/+5In other news, studies show that the sky is dark at night.
  • inactive, on 08/27/2008, -0/+4And the screaming, and carefulness, and the attention it draws to itself....

    (ps dont care if you digg me down, you guys know its the truth. even though this is annoying, it doesn't EVER make the baby unlovable. there might be days where you'd rather be "dead" than waking up at 6AM to a screaming baby, to change diapers.)
  • inactive, on 08/27/2008, -0/+4Yeah, the dog (at least my dog) can even show it's own emotion through facial expression to a certain extent.
  • frasermoo, on 08/28/2008, -0/+4let it all out son. let it all out.
  • jaxter2010, on 06/17/2009, -1/+5But we can still yell at them for the first for months, right?
  • Slade605, on 08/27/2008, -0/+3I think this would have been more enjoyable to read if the title was "New Study: Babies"
  • Slade605, on 08/27/2008, -1/+4Depends how hard you throw them.
  • wrathoftheafe, on 08/28/2008, -0/+3so its almost like they are real people
  • xelloss, on 08/27/2008, -0/+2How is this a new study, I watched a whole program about babies recognizing emotions like 4 years ago.
  • MidnightRIder77, on 08/27/2008, -1/+3Then why do they always laugh at scary faces?
  • wrathoftheafe, on 08/28/2008, -0/+2by hitting "b" one time too many
  • russnem, on 08/27/2008, -0/+2It's not the faces. It's the emotion. And this guy is the "Science Editor"???
  • smitas, on 08/27/2008, -1/+3Why can't they keep this up after they are grown ups?
  • justiceape, on 08/28/2008, -0/+2This just in: babies are small.
  • Grolsch, on 08/28/2008, -0/+2New study? I learned this in my intro psychology class...
  • RobotBuddha, on 08/27/2008, -0/+2It's not new if you've read any papers on the subject in the past 15 years.

    However, and I don't mean any offense by this, anecdotal evidence in the case of adult/child relation is one of the absolute worst you can find in all human experience. We're hardwired to our species young so strongly that all logic can easily go out the door. The angry mob yelling "Think of the children!", or the parents who think their slow child is a repressed genius is a cliche for a reason. Instinct takes over from rational evaluation of the situation very quickly.
  • iancgi, on 08/28/2008, -0/+2i cant believe u got dugg up for such a stupid comment.
  • wrathoftheafe, on 08/28/2008, -1/+3amen.
  • Harabeck, on 08/27/2008, -3/+5My 7 month old niece has been able to tell if you were making fun of her for months now, and will immediately get pissed and cry.
  • zip000, on 08/28/2008, -0/+2I really don't mind changing my baby's diaper - the occasional screaming for no good reason though can be frustrating.
  • Kahnza, on 08/27/2008, -0/+2Autistic kids just don't get it. I still don't. :(
  • Obamaisourhope, on 08/28/2008, -0/+1File this in the no ***** category
  • SubjectiveC, on 08/28/2008, -0/+1Never mind. Found it with Google: http://www.somethingawful.com/d/flash-tub/best-wee ... Fart song and everything.
  • Darkyuubi, on 08/28/2008, -0/+1Wait. How is this news? Basic emotional recognition is hardwired into a humans brain for obvious reasons. (being able to tell between friend and foe thus responding accordingly) I don't understand why this is the latest and greatest cognitive discovery...
  • TheDreadDiggerD, on 08/28/2008, -0/+1THINK OF THE CHILDREN! Let them hurt themselves!!!
  • justiceape, on 08/28/2008, -0/+1Oh God, that was great. I'm wiping tears from my eyes. For about ten seconds, that's the funniest ***** ever.
  • wispygalaxy, on 08/28/2008, -0/+1negativenancy is referring to: http://www.somethingawful.com/flash/shmorky/babby. ...
  • wispygalaxy, on 08/28/2008, -0/+1Oops, I meant to reply to negativenancy's comment. Sorry about that.
  • SubjectiveC, on 08/28/2008, -0/+1Not Baby Hitler, he didn't. That's why they call him Hitler.
  • iancgi, on 08/28/2008, -0/+1wow... make sure u digg users who have never had any pussy yet remember to wear a condom. Cause judging by this thread we have some really ***** parents to be.
  • JapaneseEconomy, on 08/28/2008, -0/+1Well understanding how to use emoticons like you just used is a start ;-)

    New technologies and training methods are coming on the horizon are capable of improving Autistic children's facial recognition ability.
  • SubjectiveC, on 08/28/2008, -0/+1That Flash Tub was legend. Can't seem to find it, though. What was the name, again?
  • xptoast, on 08/28/2008, -0/+1baby...F*** man just spell right please.
  • jontalisman, on 08/28/2008, -0/+1New Study: Babies Dig Milk - film at 11!
  • MrsSpooky, on 08/28/2008, -0/+1I had to digg this article trumpeting old news just for the comments. You guys are killing me over here. :D
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