Nonlinear Dynamics in Sitting Postural Control and Visual Attention in Infants with Typical Development and Infants with Motor Delays

2010

Reggie Harbourne

This study focused on the interaction of developing postural control in sitting with cognition. Look time served as a proxy for the construct of cognitive processing. Three experiments examined developmental changes in sitting postural control and looking. The first experiment examined archival data of typical infants who were followed longitudinally as they learned to sit. Look time was found to decrease over time as sitting independence emerged. Postural control variables from nonlinear dynamics changed toward greater stability and regularity as infants sat with greater independence. Using an age-held-constant design, infants at the age of 6 months who sat independently had significantly shorter look times when compared to their same-age peers who were not independent in sitting. A third analysis showed that look time was shorter for infants who had more postural stability at any sitting stage. Experiment 2 utilized archival data of infants with motor delay to examine look duration during sitting development. Infants with delays exhibited the same changes in look time as the infants with typical development during sitting development. Lastly, a third experiment with typical infants beginning to sit found no difference in look time between the two conditions of unsupported and supported sitting, indicating that simply being provided mechanical stability does not affect infant look time. By exploring the interaction of maturation, postural control, and look time, the present study revealed that sitting postural control may interact with looking in a way that drives cognitive change by expanding the infant?s ability to visually explore the environment. Developmental changes in look time are likely related to experience and developing postural control.

Conference presentations and posters presented

Consumers/Families, Professionals, Students

N/A