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Sensorimotor organization in reach and prehension: a development model
Insights
This study presents a model for infant hand skill development, detailing the progression of reach and prehension. It aids in understanding and addressing developmental delays in children.
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.
Abstract:
A model is presented to depict the organization of the reflex, visual, voluntary motor, and perceptual-cognitive systems in the development of reach and prehension during the first year of life. Five components of hand skills are identified based upon a review of infant scales and observational studies, and the sequential occurrence of behaviors leading to the development of these components is graphically presented. These sequences are juxtaposed to enable the reader to view the temporal relationship of the systems at various stages in the development of reach and prehension in the infant. Items in the models are operationally defined. An explanation is included to clarify the nature and the sequence of events involved in the culmination of mature hand skills. The model should be useful in the identification, analysis, and remediation of deficits in reach and prehension often noted in children with developmental disabilities.