Perspective taking activates one's own perceptual object processing in infants and adults

Abstract

Perspective taking is central to human cognition and interaction. Preverbal infants already seem to consider the perspective of others, and adults do so continually, in parallel with other cognitively demanding tasks. Yet, the representational format in which others perspectives are implemented in the mind and brain remains unclear. We addressed this question by using a neural marker that provides a precise index of visual object processing. We presented adults and 12-14-months-old infants with objects flickering at 4 Hz, evoking phase-locked rhythmic activity at the exact same frequency over visual cortex that is highly specific of visually processing the flickering object. The object then became occluded from the participants view. Critically, in one condition another person continued to see the object, whereas in control conditions the observers view was blocked or no observer was present. Remarkably, both in adults and infants, the frequency-tagged neural response specific of own visual object processing persisted when their own view was blocked and only the other person could see the object, but not in either control condition. These findings provide direct neural evidence that representing another persons perspective engages our own perceptual object processing and demonstrate that this representational format is already present in infancy. TeaserFrequency-tagging shows that objects seen only by others activate ones own object-specific perception in adults and infants.