Face perception and impact of face masks at 6 months post-term age in preterm and term infants (The BabyFace Study) (opens in new tab)

The COVID-19 pandemic drastically changed face-to-face interactions, as face masks cover facial zones and affect face perception. Preterm birth is associated with altered face perception, which is important in socio-cognitive development. Use of face masks in neonatal units could further impede face perception development. We assessed the impact of face masks on face perception, in preterm (23–30 weeks gestation at birth, n = 24) and term infants (n = 24) at 6 months’ post-term age, using fun...