Babies' eyes tracked in scientific study

A baby wearing a blue jumper has a bright red hat on, with a camera attached to the front. The baby is looking at a smiling woman. His father is holding him and looking down at his face. The lavish patterned wallpaper of Brighton's Royal Pavilion can be seen in the background.Josh McLaughlin/BBC

Baby René is wearing a hat with an infrared camera that tracks his eye movements

Dan Fineman
South East

New research into the way babies perceive colours and patterns is taking place at Brighton's Royal Pavilion.

The attraction has launched a new Baby Colour Trail, which the organisers claim as the first of its kind in the UK.

It follows scientific research at the University of Sussex, which includes attaching infrared head cameras to infants to track their eye movements.

The technology explores what babies notice most, reshaping how museums and galleries can engage their youngest visitors.

A gold statue of a male bust, in front of ornate red and gold wallpaper, with a green and red infrared heat map superimposed over the top.The Sussex Baby Lab / University of Sussex

Infrared cameras provide a heatmap, with red showing the areas that babies' eyes are drawn to most

'Surprisingly sophisticated'

Professor Anna Franklin, of the university's Sussex Baby Lab, says the research has shown that babies are far more visually capable than previously thought.

She said: "They can see colour from birth and by four months their colour vision is already surprisingly sophisticated.

"The pavilion is the perfect place to put this science into practice because it's bursting with the colour, contrast and patterns that babies love to look at."

A smiling woman with glasses, wearing a black dress and light blue cardigan, is looking into the camera. Behind her is a lavish dining table with candelabra and colourful place settings. There are visitors in the background of the dining room, which has chandeliers and ornate floor-to-ceiling paintings.Josh McLaughlin/BBC

Prof Anna Franklin says babies are far more visually capable than previously thought

Built in 1787 as the extravagant seaside palace of Prince George the Prince Regent, later George IV, the Royal Pavilion is famous for its exotic patterned designs and painted ceilings.

The Baby Trail highlights the features that fascinate infants the most, including human and animal faces, reflective surfaces and bright colours.

A special baby basket has been installed in the pavilion's music room, allowing infants to look up at the colourful ceiling.

Head of learning and engagement, Su Hepburn, said: "This project combines cutting-edge science with our extraordinary building to create something unique for families.

"The research shows that the colours, objects and patterns in the pavilion's remarkable interior spark curiosity, wonder and joy in babies."

A bearded man dressed all in black is standing in front of a lavish red and gold Chinese patterned wallpaper, holding his baby in his arms. The baby is looking up at the ceiling. The man is looking into the camera, alongside a smiling woman wearing a black dress and a light blue cardigan. There is an ornamental pagoda in the background.Josh McLaughlin/BBC

The trail highlights the features that fascinate infants the most, including colourful ceilings

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