Birth Type Linked To Spatial Attention & Ability To Focus, Says Research

A recent study shows that being delivered through a caesarean section affects at least one form of babies' ability to concentrate.

So far, what is known to science is that early birth factors, such as birth weight and a mother's age, affect the development of a child. However, very little is known as to how the actual birth event (or how the baby was born) affects the baby's development.

A recent study by Scott Adler and Audrey Wong-Kee-You of York University in Canada shows that babies born in a caesarean section have a lowered spatial attention compared to those delivered normally. This affects how well these babies are able to prioritize and focus on a particular area or object of interest. The study was published in Springer's Journal titled "Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics," via AlphaGalileo.

The study used two experiments involving different groups of three-month-old babies. Researchers monitored their eye movements, indicating what catches their attention. Eyes will not move to where attention is not directed, so changes in the mechanisms affecting attention would mean changes in eye movements.

The researchers first experimented with external stimuli to check the eye responses of 24 babies, indicating their capacity for spatial attention. A "cue" was shown at the edge of the babies' eyesight, indicating where target stimulus can be found. Responses from the cue catching the babies' attention came in the form of "saccadic" eye movements.

It was found that the eye movements of the babies born through caesarean methods were slower compared to those normally born. The researchers believe it is because the brains of caesarean babies are affected by their manner of birth; thus, altering their ability for spatial attention.

According to the researchers, it is still unclear whether this effect lasts throughout a lifetime.

There was, however, no difference found in the cognitively driven, voluntary attention of babies whether born through c-section or a normal delivery.

The researchers then had a second experiment involving 12 babies to determine visual expectation. Stimuli were predictably and alternately shown on the left and right sides of a monitor. The babies' expectation as to where the stimuli would next appear increased their saccadic eye movements. According to the researchers, such eye movements are linked to cognitive-driven spatial attention.

"The results suggests that birth experience influences the initial state of brain functioning and should, consequently, be considered in our understanding of brain development," says Adler.

"The findings add a potential psychological implication to the roster of impacts that caesarean section delivery might have," adds Wong-Kee-You.

This study is worth noting in light of the increasing number of babies delivered via c-section.