Visual Access Research Articles

EIT probe based intraoperative tissue inspection for minimally invasive surgery

Abstract Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) has become an integral component in the repertoire of medical imaging techniques, particularly due to its non-invasive nature and real-time imaging capabilities. Despite its potential, the application of EIT in minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has been hindered by a lack of specialized electrode probes. Existing designs often compromise between invasiveness and spatial sensitivity: probes small enough for MIS often fail to provide detailed imaging, while those offering greater sensitivity are impractically large for use through a surgical trocar. Addressing this challenge, our study presents a breakthrough in EIT probe design. The open electrode probe we have developed features a line of 16 electrodes, thoughtfully arrayed to balance the spatial demands of MIS with the need for precise imaging. Employing an advanced EIT reconstruction algorithm, our probe not only captures images that reflect the electrical characteristics of the tissues but also ensures the homogeneity of the test material is accurately represented. The versatility of our probe is demonstrated by its capacity to generate high-resolution images of subsurface anatomical structures, a feature particularly valuable during MIS where direct visual access is limited. Surgeons can rely on intraoperative EIT imaging to inform their navigation of complex anatomical landscapes, enhancing both the safety and efficacy of their procedures. Through rigorous experimental validation using ex vivo tissue phantoms, we have established the probe’s proficiency. The experiments confirmed the system’s high sensitivity and precision, particularly in the critical tasks of subsurface tissue detection and surgical margin delineation. These capabilities manifest the potential of our probe to revolutionize the field of surgical imaging, providing a previously unattainable level of detail and assurance in MIS procedures.

Dementia-Sensitive Environmental Design of Living Units in German Nursing Homes: First Results of the German Environmental Audit Tool (G-EAT).

The built environment is a key component of dementia-specific care. Little is known about the characteristics of dementia-sensitive environmental elements in living units of nursing homes in Germany. The German Environmental Audit Tool (G-EAT) is a systematic assessment tool for describing these elements in detail. To describe the extent of dementia-sensitive design principles and environmental elements in a regionally limited sample of living units in Germany. The built environment was assessed using G-EAT and analysed quantitatively and descriptively. Definitions of living units were developed based on site visits and analysed using qualitative content analysis. The 42 participating living units were heterogeneous in terms of space and composition. Dementia-sensitive design principles varied greatly in their implementation in the built environment; on average, 87.7% of the environmental elements were oriented towards a familiar environment. In contrast, visual accessibility was much less frequently enabled by the built environment (mean 37.3%). The characteristics of various dementia-sensitive environmental elements need to be further investigated against the background of the nursing home care concept and the homogeneity of the resident group to enable the initiation of tailored environmental adaptation that can be implemented by interdisciplinary teams in nursing homes. This also requires a follow-up study with a larger sample of living units to identify the factors that promote and inhibit the development of a dementia-sensitive environment.

Investigating the impact of visual access on trainee interpreters’ simultaneous interpreting performance

ABSTRACT Visual access has long been considered crucial for interpreters, providing essential kinesic cues such as gaze and facial expressions that enhance understanding and emphasis. Despite its acknowledged importance, empirical studies examining the impact of visual access on interpreters’ performance remain limited. To date, conclusive evidence establishing a direct link between visual access and interpreters’ performance is lacking. This study addresses this gap by employing a data-driven approach to explore the influence of visual components in source speeches on interpreting performance. A total of 48 graduate interpreter trainees (first language/L1: Chinese, second language/L2: English) participated in English-to-Chinese simultaneous interpreting tasks under both video and audio-only conditions. Two raters (L1: Chinese, L2: English) assessed their performances using three criteria: fidelity, target language quality (language), and fluency of delivery (delivery). Data analysis revealed that, overall, participants exhibited superior performance under the video condition (M = 4.92, SD = 1.62) compared to the audio-only condition (M = 4.19, SD = 1.67). Specifically, their performance in both fidelity and delivery was notably higher under the video condition (fidelity: M = 5.12, SD = 1.59; delivery: M = 4.58, SD = 0.23) than under the audio condition (fidelity: M = 4.38, SD = 1.63; delivery: M = 4.00, SD = 0.20). However, no statistically significant difference was observed in language performance between the two conditions. The implications are discussed at the end.

BIOLOGICAL AND PROGNOSTIC IMPORTANCE OF CYTOKINES IN ORAL CANCER

Epidemiological data indicate high rates of morbidity and mortality of oral mucosal cancer worldwide. At the same time, even visual accessibility does not allow detecting oral cancer in the early stages. The purpose of the study. Assessment of the involvement of cytokines in the development and progression of oral cancer. Materials and methods. The search for publications was carried out in the databases of the RSCI, PubMed, Scopus 2019-2023 years for the following queries: cancer of the oral mucosa; potentially malignant diseases of the oral cavity; precancerous diseases of the oral cavity, inflammation and cancer, cytokines, saliva cytokines, serum cytokines. Results. It is now recognized that under the influence of inflammation, neoplastic and stromal cells interact and control tumor evolution by producing cytokines. Modern studies demonstrate the important role of cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-8, IL-6, IL-1β in the development and progression of oral cancer. A review of the conducted studies indicates that cytokines released by tumor cells of oral cancer, as well as the tumor microenvironment, contribute to cell proliferation, survival, and migration of tumor cells of this localization, although they activate immune cells, contributing to the modulation of the antitumor immune response. Hyperproduction of cytokines, registered at the local and systemic levels, appears to be a consequence of dysregulation of proliferative processes and at the same time one of the causes of tumor spread. Conclusion. Modern research demonstrates the important role of various cytokines in the development and progression of cancer of the oral mucosa. In this regard, therapeutic approaches that limit their growthstimulating activity should be considered.

Robotic Living Donor Hysterectomy for Uterus Transplantation: An Update on Donor and Recipient Outcomes.

Background/Objectives: Uterus transplantation (UTx) has evolved into a clinical reality for women with absolute uterine infertility. The international experience with UTx has predominantly utilized living donor grafts-and strategies to minimize harm to donors remain paramount. Robotic living donor hysterectomy represents a minimally invasive approach to facilitate rapid donor recovery, improve pelvic visualization and operative access, and maintain UTx recipient outcomes. The aim of this study is to describe donor, recipient, graft, and pregnancy outcomes after adoption of a robotic living donor hysterectomy program. Methods: The Dallas UtErus Transplant Study (DUETS) incorporated a robotic living donor hysterectomy operative protocol, including transvaginal extraction, from April 2019. Prospectively collected data were analyzed, and a case series presented, to describe donor intra- and post-operative outcomes and recipient intra-operative outcomes, graft viability, established pregnancies, and live births. Early cases were compared to later cases to better describe the learning curve associated with the technique. Results: Sixteen robotic living donor hysterectomies were performed with 100% graft viability after implantation demonstrated by myometrial flow and onset of menses. Early experience (eight cases) demonstrated two cases of ureteric injury. Later experience (eight cases) demonstrated a reduction in operative time (11 h 10 min vs. 6 h 38 min), with no ureteric injuries and a reduction in major operative morbidity from 25% to 12.5% (Clavien-Dindo grade ≥3). At the time of reporting, nine successful live births have occurred, with six ongoing pregnancies. Conclusions: Robotic living donor hysterectomy represents a safe approach to minimize donor harm without compromising UTx recipient, graft, and pregnancy-related outcomes. A learning curve is demonstrated with the adoption of the novel technique-with particularly care required to prevent ureteric injuries, and ongoing vigilance and reporting necessary given the small case numbers of robotic living donor hysterectomy reported internationally.

Optimizing Building Energy Systems through BIM-enabled georeferenced Digital Twins

Abstract. Building energy system management is critical for resource-saving approaches amid climate change-driven energy transitions. This paper presents a digital twin toolchain leveraging modern technologies such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality (VR), and Augmented Reality (AR). The toolchain automates the derivation of georeferenced digital twins during Technical Building Equipment (TBE) commissioning. Using a Scan vs. BIM process, discrepancies between as-planned and as-built TBE are identified, allowing automatic updates to the BIM model. Validation methods ensure both physical and functional aspects of the TBE are accurate. VR and AR facilitate off- and on-site commissioning, enabling immersive visualization and live sensor data access. An evaluation in small and large-scale demonstrators shows the toolchain's scalability and efficiency, with promising results in performance and accuracy. Future work aims to integrate more operational data, enhancing the digital twin's capabilities for building energy system management.

Delving Into the Influence of Visual Input on the Load-Related Silent Pauses During SI: What About Gestures?

This research delves into the realm of simultaneous interpreting (SI) with a focus on the Portuguese-Chinese language pair, examining the interplay between visual inputs and cognitive load. This study posits that visual cues such as hand gestures may influence the cognitive load during SI, a topic that remains controversial in interpreting studies. To address this, we conducted an empirical study involving 18 trainee interpreters divided into two groups: a control group receiving only audio input and an experimental group with additional video input. Utilizing ELAN 6.3 software, we analyzed silent pauses exceeding 300ms to gauge the cognitive load. The research focused on how audio and video inputs impact these silent pauses, with a special emphasis on segments accompanied by semantically related hand gestures. The results revealed that the average duration of silent pauses was marginally shorter for interpreters with video input, although the differences between the two groups were not statistically significant. Intriguingly, for both groups, the duration of pauses significantly increased during segments with semantically related gestures, underscoring the inherent high cognitive demand of these segments, irrespective of visual input. A notable discovery was the marked increase in fluency for participants with visual access when interpreting segments accompanied by gestures, which suggests that semantically related gestures provide cognitive benefits. Overall, this study contributes to the ongoing discourse on the role of visual inputs in SI, highlighting the potential of gesture input to alleviate cognitive load and improve interpreter performance.

Emotion effects survive non-standard orthographic representations

ABSTRACT Digital communication has generated forms of written speech that may deviate from standard ones, such as Greeklish (a Latin-alphabet-based script) vs. Greek. The question of interest is how different orthographic representations of the same referent (e.g. petaloyda, “butterfly”, in Greeklish vs. πϵταλούδα “butterfly” in Greek) may influence word processing, particularly visual word recognition and access to affective connotations. 120 Greek native speakers were tested on a lexical decision task, in which script (Greeklish vs. Greek) and valence (positive vs. negative vs. neutral) were manipulated within participants. Words were matched for word class, frequency, concreteness, length, number of syllables and orthographic neighbourhood. Emotional words differed from neutral ones in valence and arousal. Results yielded faster response times for words written in the standard script (Greek) than the non-standard script (Greeklish). Moreover, regardless of script, response times were negatively correlated with the words’ valence, with slowest responses for negative words and fastest for positive ones, suggesting that positive content accelerates lexical access, whereas negative content slows it down. To sum up, although script type was found to affect word recognition, activation of and access to emotional content seemed to resist non-standard characteristics of visual word processing.

Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) recognize that their guesses could be wrong and can pass a two-cup disjunctive syllogism task.

When chimpanzees search for hidden food, do they realize that their guesses may not be correct? We applied a post-decision wagering paradigm to a simple two-cup search task, varying whether we gave participants visual access to the baiting and then asking after they had chosen one of the cups whether they would prefer a smaller but certain reward instead of their original choice (experiment 1). Results showed that chimpanzees were more likely to accept the smaller reward in occluded than visible conditions. Experiment 2 found the same effect when we blocked visual access but manipulated the number of hiding locations for the food piece, showing that the effect is not owing to representation type. Experiments 3 and 4 showed that when given information about the contents of the unchosen cup, chimpanzees were able to flexibly update their choice behaviour accordingly. These results suggest that language is not a pre-requisite to solving the disjunctive syllogism and provides a valuable contribution to the debate on logical reasoning in non-human animals.

The Effects of Natural Window Views in Classrooms on College Students’ Mood and Learning Efficiency

Observing peaceful natural environments has been shown to restore cognitive abilities and reduce stress. As a result, visual access to natural environments is becoming increasingly common in educational settings. However, most current research on classroom window views has examined classroom environments in elementary and secondary schools, and only some university classrooms have been used as study sites. This study investigated the relationship between the naturalness of university classroom window views and physiological and emotional responses and standardized tests of attentional focus (learning efficiency) in university students. Thirty participants (undergraduates 21.16 ± 1.01 years old) viewed architectural window views and natural window views for 3 min each, and physiological measures of EEG, HRV index, and psychometric measures of Semantic Differences Questionnaire and Emotional State Questionnaire generated data. Measurements were generated. The results indicated that the natural window view significantly enhanced theta, alpha, and beta waves of brain activity, provided a sense of comfort, relaxation, and pleasure, and increased learning efficiency compared to the architectural window view. The findings support the beneficial associations between window views on university campuses and students’ mood and learning efficiency, emphasizing the importance of considering natural window views in the planning and designing of university classrooms.

Critical therapeutic landscape design elements for cognitive impairments in the Royal Talbot rehabilitation centre

PurposeTherapeutic landscapes can be beneficial for patients recovering from cognitive and behavioural impairments. The therapeutic garden in the Royal Talbot rehabilitation centre (RTRC) located in Kew, Melbourne is a precedent for its nature design outdoor spaces and horticultural therapy (HT) program for patients with cognitive impairments due to brain and spinal cord injuries. There have been no studies into the physical design of the RTRC therapeutic garden.Design/methodology/approachThis case study unveils the critical design themes, and dominant physical elements of the RTRC therapeutic garden through site observation and analysis over the course of two months, a semi-structured interview with a key staff, and graphical representations using integrated photography and collaborative digital tools of AutoCAD and Adobe Photoshop.FindingsSeven critical design themes are identified for the RTRC garden: (1) space layout and organization, (2) physical and visual access, (3) pathway and facility, (4) multisensory vegetation, (5) amenity, wayfinding and seasonal interest, (6) cognitive stimulation, (7) utility and HT. Qualitative and quantitative data analysed in visual and descriptive format reveal multisensory vegetation, amenity, wayfinding and seasonal interest, and utility and HT are the top three most pivotal critical design themes in the RTRC therapeutic garden.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings of this case study can be used to impart knowledge about the design of therapeutic landscape settings for cognitive impairments to design professionals and the public.Originality/valueThere is no case study has been conducted for this precedent of therapeutic garden in the Royal Talbot rehabilitation centre that targets for cognitive impairment patients. With the increasing awareness in medical and healthcare environments, this case study would help to inject mutual understanding, generate knowledge and design awareness among design professionals and public, and to cultivate more good quality healthcare settings.

Spatial-temporal patterns and influencing factors of the Building Green View Index: A new approach for quantifying 3D urban greenery visibility

The vertical expansion of urbanization has increased the morphological heterogeneity of the urban landscape, affecting the physical and emotional wellbeing of urban dwellers by obstructing the view of greenery. In this study, multisource spatial data was used to calculate the Building Green View Index (BGVI). Baidu Street View (BSV) images were collected for comparison with the corresponding BGVI results. A random forest model was used to analyze the contributions and marginal effects of multiple influencing factors on BGVI. The results indicated that approximately 76.10 % of the sampled sites had a higher BGVI than the street view green view index, indicating buildings' superiority of visible greenery in height. The western edge of the research region frequently had the highest BGVI. Meanwhile, the hotspot regions were primarily located in the west, which was more consistent with the distribution of high value zones. The green area within the maximum visible distance, the maximum visible distance, and the average height were the most influential factors of BGVI according to marginal effects analysis with the highest IncNodePurity. As a quantitative measure of urban dwellers’ visual accessibility to green space, the BGVI will contribute to urban green planning and the development of landscape architecture.

Pebble to the Metal: A Boulder Approach to Enrichment for Danio rerio.

Zebrafish are an established and widely used animal model, yet there is limited understanding of their welfare needs. Despite an increasing number of studies on zebrafish enrichment, in-tank environmental enrichment remains unpopular among researchers. This is due to perceived concerns over health/hygiene when it comes to introducing enrichment into the tank, although actual evidence for this is sparse. To accommodate this belief, regardless of veracity, we tested the potential benefits of enrichments presented outside the tank. Thus, we investigated the preferences and physiological stress of zebrafish with pictures of pebbles placed underneath the tank. We hypothesized that zebrafish would show a preference for enriched environments and have lower stress levels than barren housed zebrafish. In our first experiment, we housed zebrafish in a standard rack system and recorded their preference for visual access to a pebble picture, with two positive controls: visual access to conspecifics, and group housing. Using a crossover repeated-measures factorial design, we tested if the preference for visual access to pebbles was as strong as the preference for social contact. Zebrafish showed a strong preference for visual access to pebbles, equivalent to that for conspecifics. Then, in a second experiment, tank water cortisol was measured to assess chronic stress levels of zebrafish housed with or without a pebble picture under their tank, with group housing as a positive control. Cortisol levels were significantly reduced in zebrafish housed with pebble pictures, as were cortisol levels in group housed zebrafish. In fact, single housed zebrafish with pebble pictures showed the same cortisol levels as group housed zebrafish without pebble pictures. Thus, the use of an under-tank pebble picture was as beneficial as being group housed, effectively compensating for the stress of single housing. Pebble picture enrichment had an additive effect with group housing, where group housed zebrafish with pebble pictures had the lowest cortisol levels of any treatment group.

Arthroscopy strategy to obtain surgical access to peripheral lateral tibial plateau for arthroscopic assisted reduction & internal fixation of fractures

Current standard of open surgical approach for lateral tibial plateau fractures is lateral submeniscal arthrotomy for obtaining visual and instrumentation access to peripheral meniscus covered part where fractures are often located. Anterior parapatellar arthrotomy is used less often as it is associated with soft tissue complications and provides access to only central uncovered part. Lateral submeniscal arthrotomy achieves necessary access by surgical division of meniscotibial attachments and superior retraction of thus detached meniscus. Arthroscopic reduction and internal fixation (ARIF), with its portals placed anteriorly obtains efficient viewing as well as instrumentation access to central part but; only tangential viewing access to peripheral concealed part of joint surface in mid-lateral and posterior part and none at all in anterior and anterolateral part. Further, considering meniscotibial attachment of meniscus remains intact in ARIF, manoeuvrability of instruments in narrow submeniscal space even in posterior and mid-lateral area is severely constrained. ARIF as it is practiced now, therefore remains merely a monitoring and evaluation tool at least in peripheral meniscus concealed area. Direct elevation of depressed articular fragment often undertaken in ORIF by submeniscal arthrotomy, remains therefore unexploited in ARIF. This article describes a strategy to achieve arthroscopically; visual and instrumentation access similar to open submeniscal arthrotomy to conduct interventions equivalent to those carried out in ORIF.

Placing concepts of sensory gardens as social nodes in Older Adult’s Daycare Centre’s design towards a sustainable community: Surabaya

The urban ageing population has become a global issue that affects the world’s population composition, with an increasing proportion of persons aged 65 and older in urban environments. Older adult’s communities, as integral parts of society, can respond to this by achieving active ageing. The term ‘active ageing’ refers to efforts to maximize health, safety, and community participation to enhance the quality of life in line with advancing age. Facilities catering to the older people, such as nursing homes, often do not comprehensively consider the mobility limitations of the older adults when providing accessibility. The human-centered method is employed in the implementation process of a sensory garden at the older adult’s daycare center facility. This method places its focus on deriving solutions for conflicts between the older people group and other groups in the context of connectivity and accessibility, with the objective of creating integration between outdoor spaces and the building mass within the older adult’s daycare center facility. By utilizing the human-centered method, the root causes of accessibility issues and persons aged 65 and elder’s declining abilities can be systematically understood and resolved through a straightforward design intervention, namely the implementation of a centrally located sensory garden that serves as social nodes. Using a centralized spatial organization in the arrangement of the building masses fosters a connected circulation in the form of a linear loop. With a clear sequence, this linear configuration can accommodate ease of visual access and movement. In the built environment with accessibility amenities, it can foster a sustainable older people community. Furthermore, through the holistic implementation of sensory garden arrangements, the older people community can achieve sustainability and optimal productivity.

Acute Neuropixels Recordings in the Marmoset Monkey.

High-density linear probes, such as Neuropixels, provide an unprecedented opportunity to understand how neural populations within specific laminar compartments contribute to behavior. Marmoset monkeys, unlike macaque monkeys, have a lissencephalic (smooth) cortex that enables recording perpendicular to the cortical surface, thus making them an ideal animal model for studying laminar computations. Here we present a method for acute Neuropixels recordings in the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus). The approach replaces the native dura with an artificial silicon-based dura that grants visual access to the cortical surface, which is helpful in avoiding blood vessels, ensures perpendicular penetrations, and could be used in conjunction with optical imaging or optogenetic techniques. The chamber housing the artificial dura is simple to maintain with minimal risk of infection and could be combined with semichronic microdrives and wireless recording hardware. This technique enables repeated acute penetrations over a period of several months. With occasional removal of tissue growth on the pial surface, recordings can be performed for a year or more. The approach is fully compatible with Neuropixels probes, enabling the recording of hundreds of single neurons distributed throughout the cortical column.

Interrogating Matrix Stiffness and Metabolomics in Pancreatic Ductal Carcinoma Using an Openable Microfluidic Tumor-on-a-Chip.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by a dense fibrotic stroma that contributes to aggressive tumor biology and therapeutic resistance. Current in vitro PDAC models lack sufficient optical and physical access for fibrous network visualization, in situ mechanical stiffness measurement, and metabolomic profiling. Here, we describe an openable multilayer microfluidic PDAC-on-a-chip platform that consists of pancreatic tumor cells (PTCs) and pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) embedded in a 3D collagen matrix that mimics the stroma. Our system allows fibrous network visualization via reflected light confocal (RLC) microscopy, in situ mechanical stiffness testing using atomic force microscopy (AFM), and compartmentalized hydrogel extraction for PSC metabolomic profiling via mass spectrometry (MS) analysis. In comparing cocultures of gel-embedded PSCs and PTCs with PSC-only monocultures, RLC microscopy identified a significant decrease in pore size and corresponding increase in fiber density. In situ AFM indicated significant increases in stiffness, and hallmark characteristics of PSC activation were observed using fluorescence microscopy. PSCs in coculture also demonstrated localized fiber alignment and densification as well as increased collagen production. Finally, an untargeted MS study putatively identified metabolic contributions consistent with in vivo PDAC studies. Taken together, this platform can potentially advance our understanding of tumor-stromal interactions toward the discovery of novel therapies.

Low level of the dental health as an indicator of malignant of the oral mucosa

Introduction. The manifestation of oncological alertness during dispensary observation by a dentist is very important. The most accessible options for preventing malignancy of the oral mucosa are sanitation, regular professional oral hygiene, as well as educational work among doctors and the population. However, despite the visual accessibility of tissues and organs of the oral cavity, there is an annual increase in malignant neoplasms in this area. In this case, most patients are diagnosed with a tumor process of the last stage. malignant neoplasms of the head and neck organs require special attention due to high risk of disability even at an early stage. Aim. To evaluate a correlation between malignancy of the oral mucosa and the burdened dental status of patients. Materials and methods. A controlled study was conducted which included 142 patients with cancer of the oral mucosa without sequential or parallel inclusion of patients in groups. Dental status was assessed at help-seeking stage or during clinical examination, as planned, by evaluation of main dental indices. The morphological diagnosis was established using histological verification. Results. The majority of patients with oral tumors had hard dental plaque (81.7 % of cases). The condition of the soft tissues, in addition to presence of the mucous membrane lesion, was characterized by bleeding (69 % of cases). moderate periodontal pathology was detected (19 % of cases). patients with the cavity tumors had an acute traumatic edge of hard tissues (70 % of cases), extensive caries (26 % of cases) and the presence of removable dentures (82 % of cases). Conclusion. The values of parameters evaluated in patients in the study with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral mucosa show its relation to aggravation of general somatic status. All patients in the study required dental treatment and training in oral hygiene care.

Accessibilities and Challenges in Curriculum and Instructional Activities for Students with Visually Impairments in Gilgit Baltistan

The study aims to find the challenges and accessibility of curriculum and instructional activities of visually impaired students in Gilgit Baltistan. It adopted the qualitative approach and included the teachers of students with visual impairments from the Public Special Education Complex. Purposive sampling was used where six teachers were chosen from separate classes. Qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis. The major challenges were accessing materials, teaching Braille, and catering to the multiple learning needs of the students. However, the determination of teachers showed a high sense in changing the teaching practices so that the students who had visual impairment access the curriculum. It was found that the use of multi-sensory approaches that incorporate, for instance, the use of auditory, tactile, and kinesthetic features in a lesson to enhance learning can help in tackling the challenges which could be achieved through assistive technologies, hands-on activities, and interactive learning materials.

Neural correlates involved in perspective-taking in early childhood

Learning to consider another person’s perspective is pivotal in early social development. Still, little is known about the neural underpinnings involved in perspective-taking in early childhood. In this EEG study, we examined 4-year-old children’s brain activity during a live, social interaction that involved perspective-taking. Children were asked to pass one of two toys to another person. To decide which toy to pass, they had to consider either their partner’s perspective (perspective-taking) or visual features unrelated to their partner’s perspective (control). We analyzed power changes in midfrontal and temporal-parietal EEG channels. The results indicated that children showed higher power around 7 Hz at right temporal-parietal channels for perspective-taking compared to control trials. This power difference was positively correlated with children’s perspective-taking performance, specifically for trials in which they needed to pass the toy their partner could not see. A similar power difference at right temporal-parietal channels was seen when comparing perspective-taking trials where children’s visual access mismatched rather than matched that of their partner. No differences were detected for midfrontal channels. In sum, we identified distinct neural activity as 4-year-olds considered another person’s perspective in a live interaction; this activity converges with neural findings of adults’ social processing network.