Meltzoff and Moore, 1977

Aim: To investigate the age at which interactional synchrony occurs between mother and child.

Meltzoff and Moore (1977) videotaped 12-21 day-old babies as they watched an adult experimenter perform different facial expressions or one of three distinctive gestures.

The childs' response was filmed and identified by independent observers. Observed at the beginnings of interactional synchrony in babies as young as two weeks old.

An association was found between the expression of gesture the adult had displayed and the action of the baby.

Meltzoff and Moore, 1977