Biomaterial Database

Reaching in very young infants. 1978

D DiFranco, and D W Muir, and P C Dodwell

It has been claimed that reaching to visually presented targets is a valid indicator of perceptual capacity in very young infants. In a previous report we failed to replicate the findings on which that claim is based. Here we reanalyze some of the tapes of the first report, using a less restricted criterion for what constitutes a reach, and a much more detailed analysis of the various components of reaching behaviour. A number of components are readily distinguished and reliably observed. Infants of seven to twenty-one days show great individual variation in their reaching, from no such behaviour to a great deal. Certain clusters of the components of reaching can be used to define different reaching "styles". The infants who reached most frequently in our sample all showed a dominant pattern of reaching, which in certain respects appears to be more mature than that of other babies. The finer analysis revealed no differences in the reaching behaviour to objects and pictures of objects, even among the most active reachers.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007231	Infant, Newborn	An infant during the first 28 days after birth.	Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D007839	Functional Laterality	Behavioral manifestations of cerebral dominance in which there is preferential use and superior functioning of either the left or the right side, as in the preferred use of the right hand or right foot.	Ambidexterity,Behavioral Laterality,Handedness,Laterality of Motor Control,Mirror Writing,Laterality, Behavioral,Laterality, Functional,Mirror Writings,Motor Control Laterality,Writing, Mirror,Writings, Mirror
D009068	Movement	The act, process, or result of passing from one place or position to another. It differs from LOCOMOTION in that locomotion is restricted to the passing of the whole body from one place to another, while movement encompasses both locomotion but also a change of the position of the whole body or any of its parts. Movement may be used with reference to humans, vertebrate and invertebrate animals, and microorganisms. Differentiate also from MOTOR ACTIVITY, movement associated with behavior.	Movements
D002652	Child Behavior	Any observable response or action of a child from 24 months through 12 years of age. For neonates or children younger than 24 months, INFANT BEHAVIOR is available.	Behavior, Child
D002657	Child Development	The continuous sequential physiological and psychological maturing of an individual from birth up to but not including ADOLESCENCE.	Infant Development,Development, Child,Development, Infant
D005133	Eye Movements	Voluntary or reflex-controlled movements of the eye.	Eye Movement,Movement, Eye,Movements, Eye
D006225	Hand	The distal part of the arm beyond the wrist in humans and primates, that includes the palm, fingers, and thumb.	Hands
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001132	Arm	The superior part of the upper extremity between the SHOULDER and the ELBOW.	Brachium,Upper Arm,Arm, Upper,Arms,Arms, Upper,Brachiums,Upper Arms
D013997	Time Factors	Elements of limited time intervals, contributing to particular results or situations.	Time Series,Factor, Time,Time Factor