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A study of reaching actions in walking infants
Jill A Dosso1, Sandra V Herrera2, J Paul Boudreau2
1Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, 2136 West Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada; Department of Psychology, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria St., Toronto, Ontario, M5B 2K3, Canada.
Infant Behavior & Development
|April 16, 2017
Summary
Infant walkers flexibly coordinate reaching and walking to retrieve objects. Older walking experience enhances retrieval speed and non-reaching hand use, showing developmental integration of motor skills.
Area of Science:
- Developmental psychology
- Motor control
- Infant cognition
Background:
- Motor skill acquisition significantly impacts infant perception and exploration.
- Understanding the integration of newly acquired motor skills is crucial for developmental insights.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the integration of reaching and walking in infant walkers.
- To observe how infants coordinate upper and lower body movements for object retrieval.
Main Methods:
- A walk-to-reach paradigm was employed with 23 infants (14.5-15.5 months).
- Object retrieval strategies were analyzed, focusing on upper and lower body coordination and walking age.
Main Results:
- All infants demonstrated coordinated upper and lower body movements during object retrieval.
- Infants with more walking experience (older walking age) retrieved objects faster.
- More experienced walkers utilized their non-reaching hand more effectively.
Conclusions:
- Infants flexibly integrate emerging motor skills, such as walking and reaching.
- The coordination between upper and lower body actions is adaptable and develops over time.
- This study reveals novel insights into the integration of motor skills during early development.