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Babbling, chewing, and sucking: oromandibular coordination at 9 months
Roger W Steeve1, Christopher A Moore, Jordan R Green
1Division of Communication Disorders, University of Wyoming, 1000 East University Avenue, Laramie, WY 82071, USA. rsteeve@uwyo.edu
Summary
At 9 months, infants show less coordinated jaw muscle control during feeding and babbling compared to older children. This early motor control is developing and less refined than in adults.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Speech Pathology
Background:
- Understanding the development of motor control is key to speech and feeding.
- Previous studies show distinct mandibular control in 15-month-olds and adults.
- Motor control refines and rescales with age.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if the coordination of jaw muscles for feeding and speech is present in 9-month-old infants.
- To examine the earliest co-occurrence of these coordinative infrastructures.
Main Methods:
- Electromyographic (EMG) signals were recorded from jaw muscles.
- 15 typically developing 9-month-old infants participated.
- Data collected during sucking, chewing, and babbling tasks.
Main Results:
- 9-month-olds displayed weak muscle coupling during sucking, chewing, and babbling.
- Jaw muscle synchrony was higher for feeding than babbling.
- Infants' speech subtask results were consistent, unlike 15-month-olds.
Conclusions:
- Jaw muscle coordination is more variable in younger infants.
- The fundamental organization of jaw movements in 9-month-olds resembles older infants and adults.
- This study provides insights into the ontogeny of mandibular control.
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