joint attention joint attention shared attention shared focus individuals object achieved individual object means eye pointing verbal non verbal indications individual individual points object returns gaze individual researchers present cross description children ability follow eye gaze found month old children followed line regard month old children early research showed possible adult bring certain objects environment infant attention eye gaze subsequent research demonstrates important skills joint attention following eye gaze identifying intention ability share gaze individual important skill establishing reference ability identify intention important child ability learn language direct attention joint attention important aspects language development including production word learning episodes joint attention provide children information environment allowing individuals establish reference spoken language learn words socio emotional development ability normal relationships influenced joint attention abilities ability establish joint attention negatively affected developmental disorders animals great dogs horses elements joint attention humans levels joint attention defining levels joint attention important determining children engaging age appropriate joint attention levels joint attention shared gaze joint attention highest level joint attention involves individuals looking object individual understand individual looking object realize element shared attention instance social engagement count joint attention requires individuals attending object focusing attention additionally individual display awareness focus shared individual attention marked individual looking individual looking object joint attention conversation like behavior individuals engage especially true human adults engage behavior starting months age adults turns exchanging facial expressions noises case adult speech shared gaze occurs individuals simply looking object shared gaze lowest level joint attention individuals engage joint attention understand gaze intention establish common reference gaze refers child understanding link mental activity physical act seeing intention refers child ability understand goal person mental processes gaze individual engage joint attention establish reference following gaze directive actions pointing common way establishing reference individual understand following gaze establishes reference individual display recognition looking intentional behavior directed external objects events following gaze serves purpose establishing reference understanding looking results mental experience seeing object event recognition eyes responsible seeing recognition share capacity things understanding voice direction helps determine speaker talking referring focused gaze complex age practice gaze increases complexity individuals better able referring joint attention important social learning gaze following reflects expectation based type individual attention head turn eye turn individuals motivated follow gaze engage joint attention gaze cue rewarding events occur intention ability identify intention critical joint attention individuals understand goals intentions states able enter direct attention joint attention promotes maintains exchanges learning nature social partners ability engage joint attention crucial language development individuals intentional actions display behavior individuals locate objects eyes object use hands contact manipulate object change gaze direction cues individuals use combination changes facial vocal displays body posture mark intention act object individuals seek follow joint focus attention display knowledge awareness awareness believe experiencing world joint attention plays important role development theory mind theory mind joint attention important fully developed grasp individual mental activity language ability children extract information environment rests behaviors pointing episodes joint attention provide children great deal information objects establishing reference intention joint attention occurs particular environments items events environment provide context enables child associate meaning particular joint attention makes relevant aspects context helping children taking place language production infant social environment relates later language development children words closely linked early language experience children typically developing language skills close match maternal speech environment maternal speech matched object child focusing children delayed language development maternal speech matched object infant focusing likely engage joint attention parent talks object child attending opposed object outside infant attention increased level joint attention aids encouraging normal language development including word production joint attention present plays important role word learning crucial aspect language development relationship socio emotional development joint attention ability attend aspect environment fundamental normal relationships rely sharing experience knowledge highly motivated share experience infant motivation engage joint attention strong voluntarily turn away interesting sights engage joint attention described attachment theory need develop relationship primary achieve normal social emotional development key ability develop relationship joint attention addition language development joint attention serves function preparing complex social structures involved adult conversation children skills initiating responding joint attention predict social months age smiling low level form joint attention involving smiling object turning smile partner months positively parent rated social scores months early joint attention abilities account differences social emotional abilities later life developmental markers infancy age months children engage joint attention conversation like exchanges adults focus attention turns exchanging looks noises mouth movements age months children display joint attention skills calling respond similar manner child exhibits series responses studied early 1970s collaboration time creating assessment scale age months display joint skills general direction visual field person cease focus interesting object encounter following outward directed gaze adults extending sophisticated behaviors gaze checking initial gaze following successful paying attention eyes responding shifts eye gaze direction directing attention based gaze age months demonstrate joint attention pointing particularly girls months age begin display joint attention display joint attention activities gestures social referencing behavior guide response novel things year age joint attention displayed child understanding pointing intentional act year olds establish joint attention objects visual field objects current visual field age able represent entire environment age months children recognize minds age children recognize importance eyes seeing physical objects block sight age months capable following individual gaze outside visual field establishing representative joint attention month olds grasp intentional nature looking experience seeing role eyes skilled following gaze pointing precision years age children display joint attention extending attention present understanding targets attention extends past year olds capable thought increased memory individuals disabilities studies shown problems joint attention associated developmental processes difficulties establishing joint attention partially account differences social abilities children developmental disorders spectrum disorders core deficit noted eye gaze children difficulty alternating attention partner object difficulty attributed deficiencies following gaze resulting difficulty initiating maintaining joint attention deaf able engage joint attention similar hearing time spent engaged joint attention reduced deaf born hearing parents hearing parents deaf likely respond expand deaf initiative acts deaf deaf parents reduced time spent joint attention input critical joint attention similar modes communication understanding vital furthermore mothers unable successfully establish regular joint attention child rate infant lower scales social judgement low social early months age blind joint attention established means input feeling person hand object delayed compared sighted animals definitions non human animals joint attention highest level joint attention involves individuals looking object individual understand individual looking object realize element shared attention attention marked individual looking individual looking object joint attention involves mutual gaze parent infant mutual gaze marked parent infant looking face individuals simply looking object referred shared gaze joint attention infant parent joint attention manner looking eyes non human animals japanese seldom engage joint attention animals eye contact involved joint attention deemed threatening shared gaze gaze following shared gaze found number animals dogs horses demonstrate shared gaze type joint attention important animals gaze shifts serve animal location predators mates food capable actively locating objects focus individual attention tracking gaze limited following eye gaze interesting object view use number different cues engage shared focus including head movement eye gaze infant start follow tap point head turn cues months age months age following responses cues head turn evidence support infant able use eye gaze cue following responses months age infant able follow cues target infant look looking target moving targets stationary targets infant sensitive faces years old look visual field head turn cue
Joint attention