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Published on: November 14, 2018
Infant visual attention and step responsiveness to optic flow during treadmill stepping
Victoria A Moerchen1, Mina E Saeed
1Physical Therapy Program, Department of Kinesiology, College of Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, PO Box 413, Milwaukee, WI 53201, United States. moerchev@uwm.edu
Insights
Infants showed increased stepping frequency and complexity on a treadmill when exposed to visual motion. This suggests that visual-motor coupling enhances infant stepping, with potential benefits for clinical populations.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Motor Control
- Infant Motor Development
Background:
- Infant stepping is a complex motor behavior.
- Understanding the sensory influences on infant motor development is crucial.
- Pre-locomotor infants exhibit rudimentary stepping reflexes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of optic flow on infant treadmill stepping.
- To examine the relationship between visual attention and motor responses in infants.
- To explore the concept of visuomotor coupling in pre-locomotor infants.
Main Methods:
- Two groups of pre-locomotor infants (2-5 months and 7-10 months) participated.
- Infants were exposed to terrestrial optic flow via a patterned treadmill belt.
- Visual attention and step responsiveness were recorded and analyzed using digital video.
Main Results:
- Infants demonstrated longer visual attention to the patterned belt.
- Increased step frequencies were observed during periods of visual attention.
- Visuomotor coupling was enhanced, leading to increased stepping frequency and complexity.
Conclusions:
- Optic flow and visuotactile calibration on a treadmill enhance infant stepping.
- Sensorimotor experiences are vital for improving infant treadmill stepping.
- Findings may inform interventions for clinical populations with motor deficits.
Abstract:
This study examined infant treadmill stepping in two groups of pre-locomotor infants in response to terrestrial optic flow. The optic flow was provided via the treadmill belt for flow translation that was directionally consistent with the forward stepping of the infants. Twelve 2-5-month-old and twelve 7-10-month-old infants participated. Visual attention (duration and direction) and step responsiveness (frequency and step types) were coded from digital video, and visuomotor coupling was examined by temporally juxtaposing the visual attention and step data. Longer durations of visual attention to the patterned belt with increased step frequencies during periods of visual attention were observed, suggesting that the visuotactile calibration afforded by the patterned treadmill belt, increased visuomotor coupling and enhanced the frequency and complexity of stepping in prelocomotor infants. The findings are discussed with regard to sensorimotor experiences that enhance treadmill stepping in infants and that may have application to clinical populations.
