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Evidence of Top-Down Sensory Prediction in Neonates within 2 Days of Birth

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Title: Evidence of Top-Down Sensory Prediction in Neonates within 2 Days of Birth
Language: English
Authors: Naiqi G. Xiao (ORCID 0000-0002-5411-5714), Claire E. Robertson, Lauren L. Emberson
Source: Developmental Science. 2026 29(2).
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 13
Publication Date: 2026
Sponsoring Agency: National Institutes of Health (NIH) (DHHS)
Contract Number: R004R00HD07616602
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Neonates, Perceptual Development, Infants, Brain Hemisphere Functions, Auditory Stimuli, Visual Stimuli, Prediction, Visual Perception, Cognitive Development
DOI: 10.1111/desc.70114
ISSN: 1363-755X
1467-7687
Abstract: Recent studies have demonstrated top-down modulation in perceptual cortices in infants as young as 6 months. However, it is unclear when and how this ability emerges given conflicting evidence available. This study investigates top-down perceptual modulation by focusing on a neural signature referred to as top-down sensory prediction, where the prediction of upcoming sensory information is exhibited in the modulation of activity in perceptual cortices. We extended a paradigm previously used to identify top-down sensory prediction in 6-month-old infants to neonates. Using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), we monitored occipital lobe activity in sleeping neonates held by their caregivers. The study consisted of a Learning session, where neonates were exposed to a novel auditory-visual stimulus combination (A+V+), followed by sessions presenting occasional visual stimulus omissions (A+V-). Results showed that fNIRS channels over the occipital lobe, which were active during the Learning session, also responded to the unexpected visual omissions, indicating neonatal brains' capability for top-down sensory prediction. Experiment 2 confirmed that this response depended on learning the audiovisual association, ruling out non-specific mechanisms such as heightened arousal or an increase in the visual response when a non-specific auditory stimulus is presented. These findings offer the first evidence of top-down modulation of visual responses in neonates, suggesting this capacity exists at birth, significantly earlier than previously thought. This study suggests that top-down predictive processing is crucial for early perceptual and cognitive development.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1498496
Database: ERIC
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  Data: Evidence of Top-Down Sensory Prediction in Neonates within 2 Days of Birth
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Naiqi+G%2E+Xiao%22">Naiqi G. Xiao</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5411-5714">0000-0002-5411-5714</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Claire+E%2E+Robertson%22">Claire E. Robertson</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lauren+L%2E+Emberson%22">Lauren L. Emberson</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Developmental+Science%22"><i>Developmental Science</i></searchLink>. 2026 29(2).
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  Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: National Institutes of Health (NIH) (DHHS)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Neonates%22">Neonates</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Perceptual+Development%22">Perceptual Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Infants%22">Infants</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Brain+Hemisphere+Functions%22">Brain Hemisphere Functions</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Auditory+Stimuli%22">Auditory Stimuli</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Visual+Stimuli%22">Visual Stimuli</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Prediction%22">Prediction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Visual+Perception%22">Visual Perception</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cognitive+Development%22">Cognitive Development</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1111/desc.70114
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  Data: 1363-755X<br />1467-7687
– Name: Abstract
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  Data: Recent studies have demonstrated top-down modulation in perceptual cortices in infants as young as 6 months. However, it is unclear when and how this ability emerges given conflicting evidence available. This study investigates top-down perceptual modulation by focusing on a neural signature referred to as top-down sensory prediction, where the prediction of upcoming sensory information is exhibited in the modulation of activity in perceptual cortices. We extended a paradigm previously used to identify top-down sensory prediction in 6-month-old infants to neonates. Using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), we monitored occipital lobe activity in sleeping neonates held by their caregivers. The study consisted of a Learning session, where neonates were exposed to a novel auditory-visual stimulus combination (A+V+), followed by sessions presenting occasional visual stimulus omissions (A+V-). Results showed that fNIRS channels over the occipital lobe, which were active during the Learning session, also responded to the unexpected visual omissions, indicating neonatal brains' capability for top-down sensory prediction. Experiment 2 confirmed that this response depended on learning the audiovisual association, ruling out non-specific mechanisms such as heightened arousal or an increase in the visual response when a non-specific auditory stimulus is presented. These findings offer the first evidence of top-down modulation of visual responses in neonates, suggesting this capacity exists at birth, significantly earlier than previously thought. This study suggests that top-down predictive processing is crucial for early perceptual and cognitive development.
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      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 13
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      – SubjectFull: Perceptual Development
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      – SubjectFull: Infants
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      – SubjectFull: Brain Hemisphere Functions
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      – SubjectFull: Prediction
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      – SubjectFull: Visual Perception
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      – SubjectFull: Cognitive Development
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      – TitleFull: Evidence of Top-Down Sensory Prediction in Neonates within 2 Days of Birth
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