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Early manifestations of manual specialisation in infants: a longitudinal study from 20 to 30 weeks
F Morange-Majoux1, C Lemoine, G Dellatolas
1Laboratoire de Psychologie et Neuropsychologie Cognitive (FRE 3292), Université Paris Descartes - CNRS, Boulogne-Billancourt, France. francoise.morange-majoux@parisdescartes.fr
Insights
Infant hand preference emerges early. This study found differences in movement preparation time (latency time) between left and right hands in infants aged 20-30 weeks, suggesting early manual specialization.
Area of Science:
- Developmental psychology
- Neuroscience
- Motor control
Background:
- Hand preference is a common human trait.
- Understanding the developmental origins of manual specialization is crucial for cognitive and motor development research.
- Latency time (LT) reflects the neural processing involved in action preparation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate lateral differences in latency time during prehension development in infants.
- To explore potential early signs of manual and hemispheric specialization.
- To determine if hand use and movement type influence information processing during action planning.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study design.
- Observation of 12 infants from 20 to 30 weeks of age.
- Measurement of latency time (LT) for both hands during approach and grasping movements towards reachable targets.
Main Results:
- Latency time was shorter for left-hand approach movements.
- Latency time was shorter for right-hand grasping movements.
- Significant lateral differences in LT were evident from 20 weeks of age.
Conclusions:
- Early manual specialization is present in infants by 20 weeks.
- Observed differences in LT suggest distinct information processing for each hand.
- Findings support the hypothesis of early hemispheric specialization influencing motor control.
Abstract:
This longitudinal study examined lateral differences between latency time of the two hands during the development of prehension in 12 infants from 20 to 30 weeks. Latency time (LT) is defined as the delay between the visual localisation of a reachable target and the beginning of the movement and could be considered as a phase in the preparation of action. If LT varies with the hand used and the type of movement, this would suggest differences in information processing (nature and/or quantity). Results show that the latency time is shorter for the left hand approach movements and shorter for the right hand grasping movements. These findings are in favour of a manual specialisation--clearly present from 20 weeks--and are discussed in a possible hemispheric specialisation perspective.
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