Peekaboo! Cambridge scientists discover why children think they are invisible when they hide their eyes

It's an adorable game parents have played with their young children for generations. But now researchers are looking for a scientific answer to explain why children think they actually disappear when they cover their eyes while playing peekaboo. Researchers led by James Russell at the University of Cambridge have carried out the first study into this bizarre trait with groups of three and four-year-old children. The children's eyes were covered with masks and they were then asked whether they could be seen by the researchers - with most saying no. Many also believed that the researchers could not see adults who were wearing eye masks - leading to the conclusion most young children believe that anyone who covers their eyes is obscured from other people's view. The researchers then attempted to distinguish what exactly creates the feeling of invisibility - whether it was not being able to see at all or just because the other person couldn't see their eyes.Read more