Arousal effects on visual preferences in neonates.

Investigated the influence of arousal level on visual preferences by observing the looking preferences of 12 full-term neonates once in a more aroused condition (before feeding while unswaddled) and once in a less aroused condition (after feeding while swaddled). The stimuli were unpatterned light panels illuminated at temporal frequencies of 1, 2, 4, and 8 Hz. Significant linear relationships between amount of looking and stimulus frequency were found in both arousal conditions. However, the effects were in opposite directions in the 2 conditions. Ss looked more as temporal frequency increased when they were less aroused and looked less as temporal frequency increased when more aroused. Thus, even when awake and attending, infants' visual preferences vary systematically with changes in both internal and external amounts of stimulation such that there is an inverse relationship between level of arousal and preferred temporal frequency. (15 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)