Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 25, 2026
Investigating Motor Skill Learning Processes with a Robotic Manipulandum
Published on: February 12, 2017
Instrumented toys for studying power and precision grasp forces in infants
S M Serio1, F Cecchi, E Boldrini
1BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy. s.serio@sssup.it
Insights
Infant grasping development can now be quantitatively measured using instrumented toys. This technology tracks changes in precision and power grips, aiding early detection of motor delays.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Motor Control
- Infant Biomechanics
Background:
- Current infant grasping development assessment relies on subjective clinical observation and functional scales.
- Quantitative data for diagnosing disturbed infant motor development is lacking.
- Early identification of motor delays is crucial for timely intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and evaluate an instrumented "baby gym" for quantitative measurement of infant grasping.
- To longitudinally track grasping development in healthy infants aged 4 to 9 months.
- To assess the system's suitability for early detection of motor disorders.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study involving 7 healthy infants aged 4-9 months.
- Utilized a "baby gym" with instrumented toys to measure grasping actions.
- Recorded quantitative variables related to precision and power grasps.
Main Results:
- Observed an age-related increase in precision grasp and decrease in power grasp.
- Noted an increase in applied forces for both grasp types with infant age.
- Demonstrated the system's ability to quantitatively measure manual function.
Conclusions:
- The instrumented "baby gym" provides a valid, non-distressful tool for continuous quantitative measurement of infant motor development.
- This system can facilitate early intervention training during the first year of life.
- It is suitable for evaluating infants at high risk for developmental motor disorders.
Abstract:
Currently the study of infants grasping development is purely clinical, based on functional scales or on the observation of the infant while playing; no quantitative variables are measured or known for diagnosis of eventually disturbed development. The aim of this work is to show the results of a longitudinal study achieved by using a "baby gym" composed by a set of instrumented toys, as a tool to measure and stimulate grasping actions, in infants from 4 to 9 months of life. The study has been carried out with 7 healthy infants and it was observed, during infants development, an increase of precision grasp and a reduction of power grasp with age. Moreover the forces applied for performing both precision and power grasp increase with age. The proposed devices represent a valid tool for continuous and quantitative measuring infants manual function and motor development, without being distressful for the infant and consequently it could be suitable for early intervention training during the first year of life. The same system, in fact, could be used with infants at high risk for developmental motor disorder in order to evaluate any potential difference from control healthy infants.
