Abstract
Infant gaze aversion and heart rate were measured during the interactions of 4-month-old infants and their mothers. The mother's activity level was varied by instructing her to interact naturally (moderate activity), to remain still-faced (low activity) or to keep her infant's attention (high activity). The interactions were then analyzed for amount of maternal activity, infant gaze aversion and for tonic heart rate during each of the interactions, and the temporal relationship between isolated episodes of gaze aversion and corresponding heart rate was assessed during the “natural” interactions. Infant gaze aversion was greater and tonic heart rate was elevated during the low and high activity interactions. Heart rate accelerations occurred prior to the onset of gaze aversion and heart rate decelerations occurred during the gaze aversion periods.
