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Published on: December 2, 2022
Contingent auditory feedback of arm movement facilitates reaching behavior in infancy
1Department of Kinesiology, 266 Recreation Building, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, United States.
Insights
Infants use sound to learn reaching. Contingent auditory feedback, like voices or music, enhanced infant arm movements and the number of reaches, aiding goal-directed actions.
Area of Science:
- Developmental psychology
- Infant motor development
- Auditory perception
Background:
- Infant reaching is a critical developmental milestone.
- Understanding the sensory-motor integration in early development is crucial.
- The role of auditory feedback in shaping motor skills is an emerging area of research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how contingent auditory feedback influences the development of infant reaching.
- To determine if auditory stimuli can shape early motor exploration and goal-directed movements.
Main Methods:
- Observing 11 full-term infants biweekly from 10 to 16 weeks of age.
- Recording infant arm kinematics.
- Providing contingent auditory feedback via mother's voice or musical tones based on arm movements.
Main Results:
- Auditory feedback significantly increased the amplitude of exploratory arm movements.
- The number of reaches at the onset of reaching also increased with auditory feedback.
- Infants demonstrated enhanced motor exploration and refinement of reaching behaviors.
Conclusions:
- Infants utilize contingent auditory feedback to explore movement possibilities.
- Auditory stimuli play a role in shaping exploratory actions into goal-directed reaching.
- Sensory feedback is integral to the development of early motor skills.
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of contingent auditory feedback on the development of infant reaching. Eleven full-term infants were observed biweekly from the age of 10 weeks to 16 weeks, and their arm kinematics were recorded. Auditory feedback that was contingent on arm kinematics was provided in the form of: (a) the mother's voice; and (b) musical tones. Results showed that providing auditory feedback (mother's voice or musical tones): (i) increased the amplitude of exploratory arm movements before the onset of reaching; and (ii) increased the number of reaches at the onset of reaching. These results show that infants are able to use contingent auditory feedback to explore the relevant possibilities for action that are subsequently shaped into goal-directed movements.
