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Neonatal Stepping in Relation to Terrestrial Optic Flow

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Neonatal Stepping in Relation to Terrestrial Optic Flow
Language: English
Authors: Barbu-Roth, Marianne, Anderson, David I., Despres, Adeline
Source: Child Development. Jan-Feb 2009 80(1):8-14.
Availability: Blackwell Publishing. 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148. Tel: 800-835-6770; Tel: 781-388-8599; Fax: 781-388-8232; e-mail: customerservices@blackwellpublishing.com; Web site: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/jnl_default.asp
Peer Reviewed: Y
Physical Description: PDF
Page Count: 7
Publication Date: 2009
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Infants, Optics, Experiments, Neonates, Intervention, Visually Impaired Mobility
DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2008.01241.x
ISSN: 0009-3920
Abstract: This experiment examined whether newborn stepping, a primitive form of bipedal locomotion, could be modulated by optical flow. Forty-eight 3-day-old infants were exposed to optical flows that were projected onto a horizontal surface above which the infants were suspended. Significantly more air steps were elicited by exposure to a terrestrial optical flow specifying forward translation than by a rotating optical flow or a static optical pattern. Thus, a rudimentary coupling between optical flow and stepping is present at birth, suggesting a precocious capacity in the newborn to perceive and utilize visual information specifying self-motion. The findings may help the early diagnosis of infants with visual or visual-motor deficits and the development of visually based interventions for disabled infants.
Abstractor: As Provided
Number of References: 29
Entry Date: 2009
Accession Number: EJ827594
Database: ERIC
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Description
Abstract:This experiment examined whether newborn stepping, a primitive form of bipedal locomotion, could be modulated by optical flow. Forty-eight 3-day-old infants were exposed to optical flows that were projected onto a horizontal surface above which the infants were suspended. Significantly more air steps were elicited by exposure to a terrestrial optical flow specifying forward translation than by a rotating optical flow or a static optical pattern. Thus, a rudimentary coupling between optical flow and stepping is present at birth, suggesting a precocious capacity in the newborn to perceive and utilize visual information specifying self-motion. The findings may help the early diagnosis of infants with visual or visual-motor deficits and the development of visually based interventions for disabled infants.
ISSN:0009-3920
DOI:10.1111/j.1467-8624.2008.01241.x