Dr Joe McCleery - Predictor Podflash - Laughing babies and ripping paper

In our first quick Ideas Lab Podflash, Lucy speaks to Dr Joe McCleery about how current research in Birmingham University’s ‘Babylab’ is shedding light on the science behind the viral video hit of baby Micah laughing as his dad rips up a job rejection letter. Dr McCleery has been conducting a study which involves monitoring babies’ brain activity as they watch and listen to paper being ripped up, and compares it to their reactions to sounds not caused by human activity. This research is showing that infants have a special interest in sounds made by people, and that they process them in specialist brain regions on the left side of the brain.

First broadcast: 03/10/2012

Transcript: http://tinyurl.com/ojuuwwb