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Protracted development of motor cortex constrains rich interpretations of infant cognition

Mark S Blumberg1, Karen E Adolph2

  • 1Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; DeLTA Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.

Trends in Cognitive Sciences
|January 21, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Infant cognition research is limited by slow motor cortex development. Early cognitive abilities may rely more on subcortical brain functions than previously assumed.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental neuroscience
  • Cognitive science
  • Neurobiology

Background:

  • Assessing preverbal infant cognition relies on observable motor actions.
  • Infant motor development, particularly cortical control, is a prolonged postnatal process.
  • Early cognitive development theories often overlook motor system immaturity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To question the validity of inferring infant cognition solely from motor behaviors.
  • To highlight the impact of delayed cortical motor development on cognitive assessments.
  • To advocate for exploring subcortical contributions to early cognition.

Main Methods:

  • Review of developmental neuroscience literature on motor cortex maturation.
  • Analysis of the relationship between motor system development and cognitive inference.
  • Theoretical consideration of subcortical roles in infant cognition.

Main Results:

  • Cortical motor control in human infants is absent at birth and develops slowly.
  • Neonatal cortex lacks the motor capacity for complex behaviors used in cognitive testing.
  • Current methods for assessing infant cognition may overestimate cognitive abilities.

Conclusions:

  • Protracted motor cortex development necessitates caution in interpreting infant cognition.
  • Developmental continuity claims between infant and adult cognition require re-evaluation.
  • Subcortical mechanisms warrant greater attention in understanding early cognitive development.

Keywords:
core knowledgeeye movementsinfant cognitionmotor cortexmotor mapsvisual system

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