Co-Chairs: Drs. Arielle Keller (University of Connecticut) and Maya Rosen (Smith College)

Speakers: Dr. Jesse Gomez (Princeton University), Dr. Lisa Scott (University of Florida), Dr. Gaia Scerif (University of Oxford), and Dr. Stefanie Hoehl (University of Vienna) 

What is the symposium about?

What children attend to shapes what they process, learn, and how they see the world. In this invited symposium, four speakers will explore the neural mechanisms that support the development of vision and visual attention from infancy to childhood. This symposium includes research using fMRI, EEG, and eye tracking to explore basic visual attention, the interplay between attention and memory, and joint attention with caregivers. This diverse range of methods and topics will provide the audience with a holistic overview of the field of visual attention research in development.

Who are the speakers?

The speakers are Drs. Jesse Gomez, Lisa Scott, Gaia Scerif, and Stefanie Hoehl. All of these scientists bring different perspectives circling in on how visual attention develops. Dr. Gomez (Princeton University) will talk about work focused on mapping visual association cortex using fMRI and the role that visual attention plays in recruiting these spatial maps. Dr. Scott (University of Florida)’s talk will explore EEG work, coupled with eye tracking looking at developmental changes in responses of visual cortex in infants and what this tells us about the development of joint attention. Dr. Scerif (University of Oxford) will discuss work using EEG to explore the dynamic interplay between attentional and mnemonic processes in neurotypical and neurodivergent populations. Finally Dr. Hoehl (University of Vienna) will discuss the importance of EEG theta rhythms for infant visual attention, especially in facilitating novel object recognition.

How did this symposium come about?

This was an invited symposium. When thinking about how to approach this topic, we as  organizers worked to invite speakers that span several diverse age ranges, methodologies, and populations. We were very lucky that all of the speakers we invited agreed to join us in Dublin!

What is the goal of organizing the symposium?

Our goal was to bring together respected researchers who can offer insights into how the human brain changes from infancy through childhood to support the fundamental process of visual attention. We hope that this symposium highlights some important foundations and new advances that have allowed researchers to explore the complex social and cognitive dynamics that contribute to the development of attention.