A new study from Binghamton University in New York looked at how children look at different emotional faces. The researchers studied 242 children and their mothers over two years, using special eye-tracking cameras. They found that the way children look at faces showing happiness, sadness, or anger could show early signs of depression before other symptoms appear.

The main reason for the study was to understand if children's attention to emotional faces is linked to a family history of depression. The researchers found that children whose mothers had depression paid more attention to sad faces when they felt low. This was different from children without a family history of depression.

Because of these results, scientists believe that eye-tracking tests might help doctors find children who need emotional support early. This could help children get help before depression becomes serious.