Human infants show an early sensitivity to direct eye contact, which is crucial for social development. Two experiments demonstrated that newborns prefer direct gaze over averted gaze. In the first experiment, 2- to 5-day-old infants spent significantly more time looking at faces with direct gaze. In the second experiment, 4-month-old infants showed enhanced neural processing of direct gaze, as indicated by event-related potentials (ERPs). The results suggest that infants are born with a preference for direct gaze, which may facilitate social interaction and communication. The ability to perceive and respond to eye gaze is vital for human development. While some argue that this ability is learned through experience, others suggest it is innate. The findings support the idea that infants are born with a predisposition to detect and respond to direct gaze, which is essential for social skills. This early sensitivity to eye contact may underlie the development of social cognition and theory of mind. The study also highlights the importance of mutual gaze in social interaction. Infants who experience mutual gaze show enhanced attention and social engagement. The results suggest that the neural mechanisms underlying gaze processing are present from an early age, which may contribute to the development of social skills. The findings have implications for understanding autism, as deficits in gaze processing are common in individuals with autism. The research provides evidence that infants are born with a preference for direct gaze, which is processed differently in the brain compared to averted gaze. This early sensitivity to eye contact is likely a key factor in the development of social communication and interaction. The study underscores the importance of early social experiences in shaping human development.Human infants show an early sensitivity to direct eye contact, which is crucial for social development. Two experiments demonstrated that newborns prefer direct gaze over averted gaze. In the first experiment, 2- to 5-day-old infants spent significantly more time looking at faces with direct gaze. In the second experiment, 4-month-old infants showed enhanced neural processing of direct gaze, as indicated by event-related potentials (ERPs). The results suggest that infants are born with a preference for direct gaze, which may facilitate social interaction and communication. The ability to perceive and respond to eye gaze is vital for human development. While some argue that this ability is learned through experience, others suggest it is innate. The findings support the idea that infants are born with a predisposition to detect and respond to direct gaze, which is essential for social skills. This early sensitivity to eye contact may underlie the development of social cognition and theory of mind. The study also highlights the importance of mutual gaze in social interaction. Infants who experience mutual gaze show enhanced attention and social engagement. The results suggest that the neural mechanisms underlying gaze processing are present from an early age, which may contribute to the development of social skills. The findings have implications for understanding autism, as deficits in gaze processing are common in individuals with autism. The research provides evidence that infants are born with a preference for direct gaze, which is processed differently in the brain compared to averted gaze. This early sensitivity to eye contact is likely a key factor in the development of social communication and interaction. The study underscores the importance of early social experiences in shaping human development.