A baby’s first words are often “mama” and “papa”, and it seems so natural for us that we hardly think why babies actually utter these words first. But the experts at the University of British Columbia have made brain scans of babies to successfully crack that mystery. The secret lies in repeating the same syllables.
The study involved newborns (age 2 days to 3 days). When babies heard repeating syllables, their brain activity increased in the zones responsible for attention, abstract thinking, hearing and speech functions. Figuratively speaking, more complex words go in one ear and out the other, causing no responses from the baby’s brain.
Conducted experiments convincingly explain why babies around the world speak nearly the same language. Mama, papa, dada are the most simple words for them to understand and to utter.
