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Air stepping in response to optic flows that move Toward and Away from the neonate
Author(s) -
BarbuRoth Marianne,
Anderson David I.,
Desprès Adeline,
Streeter Ryan J.,
Cabrol Dominique,
Trujillo Michael,
Campos Joseph J.,
Provasi Joëlle
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
developmental psychobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1098-2302
pISSN - 0012-1630
DOI - 10.1002/dev.21174
Subject(s) - psychology , displacement (psychology) , kinematics , physical medicine and rehabilitation , perception , communication , physics , neuroscience , medicine , classical mechanics , psychotherapist
Abstract To shed further light on the perceptual regulation of newborn stepping, we compared neonatal air stepping in response to optic flows simulating forward or backward displacement with stepping forward on a surface. Twenty‐two 3‐day‐olds performed four 60 s trials in which they stepped forward on a table (Tactile) or in the air in response to a pattern that moved toward (Toward) or away (Away) from them or was static (Static). Significantly more steps were taken in the Tactile and Toward conditions than the Static condition. The Away condition was intermediate to the other conditions. The knee joint activity across the entire trial was significantly greater in the Toward than the Away condition. Within‐limb kinematics and between‐limb coordination were very similar for steps taken in the air and on the table, particularly in the Toward and Tactile conditions. These findings highlight that visual and tactile stimulation can equally elicit neonatal stepping. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 56: 1142–1149, 2014.