The Integration of Body Movement and Attention in Young Infants |
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Authors: | Steven S. Robertson,Leigh F. Bacher,& Noelle Lalley Huntington |
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Affiliation: | Cornell University,;Binghamton University,;Boston University |
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Abstract: | The normal development of adaptive behavior in humans depends on the integration of visual attention and body movement, yet little is known about the initial state of movement-attention coupling at the beginning of postnatal life. We studied 1- and 3-month-old infants during extended periods of visual exploration and found that spontaneous shifts of gaze are preceded by rapid changes in general body movement. The results reveal a tight link between motor activation and overt attention on a time scale of seconds or less. This link undergoes substantial developmental change in the first few weeks after birth. During that time, phasic motor activation may play a key role in visual exploration by helping to unlock gaze when the environment is unchanging. |
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