Major
Neuroscience
Anticipated Graduation Year
2026
Access Type
Open Access
Abstract
Gestures are hand movements that accompany speech and convey information. They can support communication and learning, but not everyone benefits equally. One factor may be the ability to integrate gesture with speech. This study examines the role of visual attention in speech-gesture integration across development using behavioral measures and eye tracking. Thirty adults and thirty 6- to 10-year-olds will watch videos of a narrator gesturing while speaking and answering questions. Analyses will explore attentional mechanisms underlying integration. Findings could inform educational strategies, optimizing learning through gestures, especially as children's reliance on visual attention differs from adults.
Faculty Mentors & Instructors
Elizabeth Wakefield, Department of Psychology, Loyola University Chicago
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
Exploring Attentional Mechanisms of Speech-Gesture Integration across Development
Gestures are hand movements that accompany speech and convey information. They can support communication and learning, but not everyone benefits equally. One factor may be the ability to integrate gesture with speech. This study examines the role of visual attention in speech-gesture integration across development using behavioral measures and eye tracking. Thirty adults and thirty 6- to 10-year-olds will watch videos of a narrator gesturing while speaking and answering questions. Analyses will explore attentional mechanisms underlying integration. Findings could inform educational strategies, optimizing learning through gestures, especially as children's reliance on visual attention differs from adults.