Papers by Daniel Messinger
OBJECTIVE: The recurrence risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is estimated to be between 3% a... more OBJECTIVE: The recurrence risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is estimated to be between 3% and 10%, but previous research was limited by small sample sizes and biases related to ascertainment, reporting, and stoppage factors. This study used prospective methods to obtain an updated estimate of sibling recurrence risk for ASD. METHODS: A prospective longitudinal study of infants at risk for ASD was conducted by a multisite international network, the Baby Siblings Research Consortium.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Abstract This paper presents a framework to automatically measure the intensity of naturally occu... more Abstract This paper presents a framework to automatically measure the intensity of naturally occurring facial actions. Naturalistic expressions are non-posed spontaneous actions. The facial action coding system (FACS) is the gold standard technique for describing facial expressions, which are parsed as comprehensive, nonoverlapping action units (Aus). AUs have intensities ranging from absent to maximal on a six-point metric (ie, 0 to 5).
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
The face-to-face interactions of infants and their parents are a model system in which critical c... more The face-to-face interactions of infants and their parents are a model system in which critical communicative abilities emerge. We apply machine learning methods to explore the predictability of infant and mother behavior during interaction with an eye to understanding the preconditions of infant intentionality. Overall, developmental changes were most evident when the probability of specific behaviors was examined in specific interactive contexts.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Abstract Early infant emotional development concerns the interactive emergence of emotional state... more Abstract Early infant emotional development concerns the interactive emergence of emotional states that motivate approach and withdrawal. These are indexed by different patterns of infant facial expressions, vocalization, and gazing that emerge within parent-infant interactions in the first 10 months of life. Specifically, the interface of a limited number of interactive parameters creates complex real-time patterns which change over developmental time.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Abstract When predicting child developmental outcomes, reliance on children's scores on measures ... more Abstract When predicting child developmental outcomes, reliance on children's scores on measures of developmental functioning alone might mask more subtle behavioral difficulties, especially in children with developmental risk factors. The current study examined predictors and stability of examiner behavior ratings and their association with concurrent and subsequent mental and motor performance in toddlers born at extremely low birth weight.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Objective: To evaluate feeding difficulties and maternal behaviour during a feeding session with ... more Objective: To evaluate feeding difficulties and maternal behaviour during a feeding session with 1 month old infants prenatally exposed to cocaine and/or opiates. Methods: The study is part of the maternal lifestyle study, which recruited 11 811 subjects at four urban hospitals, then followed 1388 from 1 to 36 months of age. Exposure to cocaine and opiates was determined by maternal interview and meconium assay. At the 1 month clinic visit, biological mothers were videotaped while bottle feeding their infants.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Automated facial measurement using computer vision has the potential to objectively document cont... more Automated facial measurement using computer vision has the potential to objectively document continuous changes in behavior. To examine emotional expression and communication, we used automated measurements to quantify smile strength, eye constriction, and mouth opening in two 6-month-old infant–mother dyads who each engaged in a face-to-face interaction.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Abstract Unstructured mother–toddler interactions were examined in 18-month-old high-and low-risk... more Abstract Unstructured mother–toddler interactions were examined in 18-month-old high-and low-risk children subsequently diagnosed (n= 12) or not diagnosed (n= 21) with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) at 36 months. Differences in maternal sensitivity were not found as a function of emergent ASD status. A differential-susceptibility moderation model of child risk guided investigations linking maternal sensitivity to child behavior and language growth.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
This study compared the play interactions of 18-month-old cocaine-exposed toddlers and their moth... more This study compared the play interactions of 18-month-old cocaine-exposed toddlers and their mothers (n= 48) to non-cocaine-exposed comparison toddlers and their mothers (n= 77). Coders blind to drug-exposure status reliably coded the interactions for maternal directiveness, positivity, and sensitivity; child social initiative and positivity; and dyadic responsiveness.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Abstract 1. We examined dynamic infant–parent affect coupling using the Face-to-Face/Still-Face (... more Abstract 1. We examined dynamic infant–parent affect coupling using the Face-to-Face/Still-Face (FFSF). The sample included 20 infants whose older siblings had been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD-sibs) and 18 infants with comparison siblings (COMP-sibs). A series of mixed effects bivariate autoregressive models was used to represent the self-regulation and interactive dynamics of infants and parents during the FFSF.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Abstract This study investigated a novel approach to obtaining data on parent and infant emotion ... more Abstract This study investigated a novel approach to obtaining data on parent and infant emotion during the Face-to-Face/Still-Face paradigm, and examined these data in light of previous findings regarding early autism risk. One-hundred and eighty eight non-expert students rated 38 parents and infant siblings of children who did (20) or did not (18) have autism spectrum disorders.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
This is a study of differences in physical contact and tactile interpersonal behaviours between H... more This is a study of differences in physical contact and tactile interpersonal behaviours between Hispanic and Anglo mothers and infants living in the United States. Infants were 9 months old and 52 mother-infant dyads, 26 Hispanic and 26 Anglo, were videotaped during free play without toys in a university laboratory playroom.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Sensorimotor systems generate movements that are compliant and non-repeatable, yet remarkably wel... more Sensorimotor systems generate movements that are compliant and non-repeatable, yet remarkably well-adapted to an unstructured, uncertain and non-stationary world. By contrast, robotics has for the most part focused on simplifying the control problem by using stiff, highly geared actuators, emphasizing repeatability over compliance, and avoiding unstructured conditions. This approach worked well for industrial applications and has revolutionized the assembly line.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Abstract Intensity measurements of infant facial expressions are central to understand emotion-me... more Abstract Intensity measurements of infant facial expressions are central to understand emotion-mediated interactions and emotional development. We evaluate alternative image representations for automatic measurement of the intensity of spontaneous facial Action Units (AUs) related to infant emotion expression. Twelve infants were video-recorded during face-to-face interactions with their mothers. Facial features were tracked using active appearance models (AAMs) and registered to a canonical view.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Abstract This study investigated two hypotheses:(a) Japanese mother-toddler dyads will work toget... more Abstract This study investigated two hypotheses:(a) Japanese mother-toddler dyads will work together more interdependently than American mother-toddler dyads;(b) American toddlers will act more autonomously than Japanese toddlers. The hypotheses were investigated using videotapes of 10-minute shape-fitting interactions of 12 Caucasian American and 12 Japanese national mothers visiting the United States and their 24-to 31-month-olds (matched by mean age, gender and birth order).
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Abstract 1. Observational methods benefit the study of family process, but many expert rating sys... more Abstract 1. Observational methods benefit the study of family process, but many expert rating systems are costly and time-consuming. This study examined the utility of using small groups of eight to ten nonexperts to rate family conflict and maternal sensitivity. Videotaped triadic interactions of 39 families were drawn from Lindahl (1998), and 22 mother–toddler free-play interactions were drawn from Baker, Messinger, Lyons, and Grantz (2010).
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
The evidence presented in this chapter suggests that infant communicative action is highly contex... more The evidence presented in this chapter suggests that infant communicative action is highly context specific, showing remarkable variability to even subtle alterations of the social and physical settings in which interaction occurs.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Abstract 1. This study used an event-based approach to provide empirical evidence regarding the n... more Abstract 1. This study used an event-based approach to provide empirical evidence regarding the nature of coordination in 3-and 6-month-old infants. Vocalizations and facial actions of 12 normally developing infants interacting with their caregivers were coded. Coded vocalizations and facial actions were considered coordinated when they temporally overlapped. Results indicate that infants coordinated their vocalizations and facial actions more than expected by chance.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Abstract This paper presents a framework to automatically estimate the gaze direction of an infan... more Abstract This paper presents a framework to automatically estimate the gaze direction of an infant in an infant-parent face-to-face interaction. Commercial devices are sometimes used to produce automated measurement of the subjects' gaze direction. This approach is intrusive, requiring cooperation from the participants, and cannot be employed in interactive face-to-face communication scenarios between a parent and their infant.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Non-verbal referential communication is impaired in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD)... more Non-verbal referential communication is impaired in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). However, the development of difficulties with referential communication in the younger siblings of children with ASD (High-Risk Siblings)—and the degree to which early referential communication predicts later autism symptomatology—is not clear.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Uploads
Papers by Daniel Messinger