Document Detail


Object size as a determinant of grasping in infancy.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  7595425     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
The early development and patterns of development of prehensile ability were examined. Infants 5, 7, and 9 months old were presented five objects, 0.5, 1.0, 3.5, 7.0, and 14.0 cm in diameter. The findings revealed that infants as young as 5 months old were able to differentiate grip configurations as a function of object size. The number of grasps involving the two or three most radial digits (thumb, index finger, and long finger) increased greatly over this age span. At 9 months of age these kinds of grasps were 10 times more frequent than at 5 months of age. However, at each age level, when only the two or three most radial digits were used, the reaches were typically directed at the two smallest objects. These findings suggest that it was not a perceptual problem that the younger infants were facing, nor was the problem knowing when to use different kinds of grasps; rather, the problem was one of cortico-motoneural connections, which are better established in older infants. The findings also suggest that traditionally described sequential development of infants' prehension is rigid and conservative. The discrepancy with earlier results may also be attributed to the difference in the objects' sizes and the way they were presented.
Authors:
A Siddiqui
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The Journal of genetic psychology     Volume:  156     ISSN:  0022-1325     ISO Abbreviation:  J Genet Psychol     Publication Date:  1995 Sep 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1995-12-06     Completed Date:  1995-12-06     Revised Date:  2007-03-30    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  2985112R     Medline TA:  J Genet Psychol     Country:  UNITED STATES    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  345-58     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Hospital, Umeå, Sweden.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Age Factors
Child Psychology*
Female
Hand Strength
Humans
Infant
Male
Orientation
Problem Solving
Psychomotor Performance*
Size Perception*

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