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Operant conditioning of the visual smooth pursuit in young infants
J C Darcheville1, L Madelain1, C Buquet2
1Labacolil, Université de Lille III, B.P. 149, 59653 Villeneuve d'ascq Cedex, France.
Insights
Infant visual tracking, a form of operant behavior, can be improved at birth through environmental feedback. This challenges the idea that only maturation limits early visual pursuit skills.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Oculomotor Control
Background:
- Smooth pursuit eye movements are not fully functional at birth.
- Immaturity of visuo-motor systems is the traditional explanation for this limitation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if visual tracking in infants is an operant behavior.
- To explore if environmental contingencies can enhance early visual pursuit.
Main Methods:
- Infants' oculomotor responses were linked to auditory stimuli.
- Control groups received random music or no auditory stimulus.
Main Results:
- Infants whose eye movements produced auditory feedback improved their pursuit.
- Control groups showed no improvement in smooth pursuit.
Conclusions:
- Visual tracking demonstrates characteristics of operant behavior.
- Early visual pursuit can be enhanced at birth through contingent environmental interactions.
Abstract:
Smooth pursuit is a complex behaviour which is not considered as totally functional at birth. The lack of maturation of the visuo-motor systems is generally invoked to explain this phenomenon. However, if this oculomotor response is an operant behaviour, an alternate explanation may be found in the absence of previous confrontation with the environmental contingencies. A first group of young infants were placed in situations in which their oculomotor responses could produce an auditory stimulus. In such situations, young infants are able to improve their pursuit. Music was randomly delivered to a second group. No music was delivered to a third group. For the last two groups no augmentation of the proportion of slow movements was observed. Our main conclusion is that visual tracking has the properties of an operant behaviour and may be enhanced at birth. These results will be discussed within the frameworks of the behavioural discrepancy and of the maturationist hypotheses of the ocular motor control.
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