Newborn girls may spend more time looking at human faces, while newborn boys may show greater interest in objects, according to a new study by researchers from the University of Cambridge in the UK.
The researchers observed these differences within hours of birth, suggesting that the variations in visual attention appear before infants have had significant exposure to social expectations or gender-based experiences.
According to the study, biological factors that differ between the sexes during pregnancy could contribute to the observed patterns. Researchers pointed to factors such as prenatal hormone levels and genetics as possible influences on what attracts newborns' attention.
The findings add to research examining how early biological development may influence differences in attention and behaviour between male and female infants. However, the researchers' observations describe group-level patterns and do not mean that every newborn girl will prefer faces or every newborn boy will prefer objects.
The study highlights the importance of examining both biological and environmental influences when understanding how visual preferences and behaviours develop from the earliest stages of life.