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What do we know about the atypical development of exploratory actions during infancy?

Ana Carolina de Campos1, Geert J P Savelsbergh, Nelci Adriana Cicuto Ferreira Rocha

  • 1Department of Physiotherapy, Neuropediatrics Sector, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), Brazil. campos.anacarol@gmail.com

Research in Developmental Disabilities
|July 24, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Infants with developmental risk factors explore objects differently, impacting their motor, perceptual, and cognitive growth. This review examines how conditions like prematurity and autism affect infant object exploration and development.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Infant Studies
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Infant exploratory actions are crucial for motor, perceptual, and cognitive development.
  • The impact of developmental risk factors on infant object exploration is under-researched.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review scientific literature on the role of developmental risk factors in shaping infant exploratory actions.
  • To synthesize findings regarding how various risk conditions influence object exploration in infants.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic literature review of electronic databases (Medline, Science Direct).
  • Keywords used: "exploration", "exploratory", "infants".
  • Inclusion of 18 relevant research papers.

Main Results:

  • Infants facing risk factors (prematurity, blindness, Down syndrome, autism, low socioeconomic status) exhibit altered object exploration behaviors.
  • Each specific risk condition uniquely influences infant exploratory patterns.
  • Diverse impacts on motor, perceptual, and cognitive development were observed.

Conclusions:

  • Developmental risk factors significantly modify infant object exploration.
  • Further research is needed to fully understand the nuanced effects of these conditions.
  • Understanding these differences is key to supporting infant development in at-risk populations.

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