The beginner’s mind

Alison Gopnik and Jonah Lehrer take a look at how babies’ brains develop.

Gopnik argues that, in many respects, babies are more conscious than adults. She compares the experience of being a baby with that of watching a riveting movie, or being a tourist in a foreign city, where even the most mundane activities seem new and exciting. “For a baby, every day is like going to Paris for the first time,” Gopnik says. “Just go for a walk with a 2-year-old. You’ll quickly realize that they’re seeing things you don’t even notice.”

• alisongopnik
• babies
• brains
• Jonah Lehrer