Sensorimotor organization in reach and prehension: a development model

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Motor Control
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Infant hand skills, including reach and prehension, develop through complex interactions of multiple systems.
• Understanding the developmental trajectory is crucial for identifying potential issues early.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a model illustrating the organization of various systems in infant reach and prehension development.
• To graphically represent the sequential occurrence of behaviors contributing to hand skill development in the first year of life.

Main Methods:

• A review of infant scales and observational studies was conducted.
• Five key components of infant hand skills were identified.
• A model was developed to show the temporal relationships between different systems during development.

Main Results:

• The model graphically depicts the sequential development of hand skills.
• It highlights the interplay between reflex, visual, voluntary motor, and perceptual-cognitive systems.
• Operational definitions for model components are provided.

Conclusions:

• The developed model offers a framework for understanding mature hand skills.
• It can be utilized for identifying, analyzing, and remediating deficits in infant reach and prehension.
• This model is particularly relevant for children with developmental disabilities.