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Hand-use preference for reaching and object manipulation in 6- through 13-month-old infants
Insights
Infant handedness assessment reveals age-related differences in complementary bimanual actions. Females show more distinct object manipulation preferences than males, aiding neuropsychological development studies.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Human Motor Control
Background:
- Understanding infant handedness is crucial for studying the development of brain lateralization and sensorimotor functions.
- Previous research has often focused on general handedness, potentially overlooking nuances in different motor skills.
- Assessing hand-use preferences across various tasks can provide a more comprehensive view of infant motor development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the validity, reliability, and stability of assessing hand-use preferences for reaching, object manipulation, and complementary bimanual actions in infants aged 6–13 months.
- To investigate age- and sex-related differences in these specific hand-use preferences.
- To highlight the value of comparing hand-use preferences across different sensorimotor skills for a richer evaluation of infant handedness.
Main Methods:
- Participants: 6- to 13-month-old male and female infants.
- Assessment: Evaluation of hand-use preferences for reaching, object manipulation, and complementary bimanual actions.
- Analysis: Determination of validity, reliability, and stability, with comparisons based on age and sex.
Main Results:
- Hand-use preferences for complementary bimanual actions showed significant variation with age.
- Female infants exhibited more distinct hand-use preferences than male infants, specifically during object manipulation tasks.
- No significant age-related differences were found for reaching or object manipulation preferences, nor for complementary bimanual actions in females.
Conclusions:
- Separate assessment of hand-use preferences for distinct sensorimotor skills offers a more nuanced understanding of infant handedness.
- Age influences complementary bimanual action preferences, while sex impacts object manipulation preferences.
- This detailed approach to evaluating infant handedness is essential for systematic studies on the development of neuropsychological functions.
Abstract:
Validity, reliability, and stability of separate assessment of hand-use preferences for reaching, object manipulation, and complementary bimanual action were determined for 6 through 13 month-old male and female infants. Only hand-use preferences for complementary bimanual action varied with age. Females had more distinct hand-use preference than males but only for object manipulation. Comparison of hand-use preference among these different sensorimotor skills can provide a richer evaluation of infant handedness status required for systematic study of the development of neuropsychological functions during infancy.