Babies Reveal Origin of Conscious Awareness
A study conducted by researchers at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) used human infants as subjects to investigate the origins of agency and purposeful action. By tethering an infant's foot to a crib-mounted mobile, the researchers observed the moment when the baby realized they could influence their environment. Using motion capture technology, they recorded the movements of both the infants and the mobile in 3D space, identifying the emergence of agency through coordinative analysis. The findings suggest that agency arises from the coupled relationship between the organism (baby) and the environment (mobile), marking the transition from spontaneous to intentional behavior. This study provides groundbreaking insights into the development of conscious awareness and purpose in human infants.