Brain responses and looking behavior during audiovisual speech integration in infants predict auditory speech comprehension in the second year of life.

The use of visual cues during the processing of audiovisual (AV) speech is known to be less efficient in children and adults with language difficulties and difficulties are known to be more prevalent in children from low-income populations. In the present study, we followed an economically diverse group of thirty-seven infants longitudinally from 6-9 months to 14-16 months of age. We used eye-tracking to examine whether individual differences in visual attention during AV processing of speech in 6-9 month old infants, particularly when processing congruent and incongruent auditory and visual speech cues, might be indicative of their later language development.

Subjective thirst moderates changes in speed of responding associated with water consumption.

Participants (N = 34) undertook a CANTAB battery on two separate occasions after fasting and abstaining from fluid intake since the previous evening. On one occasion they were offered 500 ml water shortly before testing, and on the other occasion no water was consumed prior to testing. Reaction times, as measured by Simple Reaction Time (SRT), were faster on the occasion on which they consumed water.