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Role of the asymmetrical tonic neck reflex in hand visualization in normal infants
Insights
The asymmetrical tonic neck reflex (ATNR) influences infant hand position. Infants in the ATNR position more frequently place their hands in their visual field for better visualization.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Infant Motor Development
Background:
- The asymmetrical tonic neck reflex (ATNR) is a primitive reflex present in newborns.
- Understanding the role of ATNR in early visual-motor development is crucial for developmental assessments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of the asymmetrical tonic neck reflex (ATNR) in infant hand positioning within their visual fields.
- To determine if ATNR influences the likelihood of infants seeing their hands.
Main Methods:
- Seven video recordings were conducted for each of 14 infants within the first 12 weeks of life.
- Observations focused on hand position relative to the infant's visual field (focal vs. peripheral) and the presence or absence of the ATNR.
Main Results:
- Infants' hands were more frequently observed outside the typical ATNR position.
- Hands were more often in the peripheral visual field than the focal visual field or outside any visual field.
- The proportion of hands in the focal visual field was higher when the ATNR was present, particularly in early weeks.
Conclusions:
- The ATNR plays a significant role in positioning an infant's hands within their visual field.
- This reflex may facilitate early visual exploration and self-recognition by enabling infants to see their hands.
Abstract:
Fourteen infants were each videotaped 7 times within the first 12 weeks of life to determine whether or not the asymmetrical tonic neck reflex had a role in placing their hands within their fields of vision. Infants' arms were more frequently out of the reflex position. Hands were within the peripheral visual field more often than in the focal visual field or not within the visual field. The proportion of observations that hands were in a particular visual field varied in accordance with the presence or absence of the reflex. A higher proportion of reflex observations occurred in the focal visual field, whereas a higher proportion of observations made when the infants were not in the reflex position occurred in the peripheral visual field. Further, the proportion of focal field observations in the reflex position was greater than the proportion of observations out of the reflex position for the first six of the seven ages. This study confirms that when infants are in the asymmetrical tonic neck reflex position, their hands are more likely to be in a position in which they can be visualized.