Sensorimotor and motivational determinants of hand-mouth coordination in 1-3-day-old human infants
Blass, EM; Fillion, TJ; Rochat, P; Hoffmeyer, LB; Metzger, MA
HERO ID
1060872
Reference Type
Journal Article
Year
1989
Language
English
| HERO ID | 1060872 |
|---|---|
| In Press | No |
| Year | 1989 |
| Title | Sensorimotor and motivational determinants of hand-mouth coordination in 1-3-day-old human infants |
| Authors | Blass, EM; Fillion, TJ; Rochat, P; Hoffmeyer, LB; Metzger, MA |
| Journal | Developmental Psychology |
| Volume | 25 |
| Issue | 6 |
| Page Numbers | 963-975 |
| Abstract | Hand-mouth coordination was studied in 1–3-day-old human infants by delivering 0.2 ml of sterile 12% sucrose solution intraorally once every 2 min. Sucrose was extraordinarily calming and caused sustained hand-in-mouth contact. The calm state persisted well beyond sucrose termination. Hand-in-mouth behavior, however, stopped upon sucrose termination, demonstrating stimulus control over this integrated behavior. In subsequent studies we demonstrated that hand-in-mouth behavior was not attributable to calming per se. Moreover, hand activity could be prevented by placing a pacifier in the mouth. This demonstrates that the behavior was under intraoral somesthetic control and was not necessarily the expression of a motor pattern triggered by the sweet taste. These findings are interpreted within the contexts of sucrose (a) calming through an endogenous opioid system and (b) activating suckling-feeding mechanisms, causing the expression of integrated hand, mouth, and head motor patterns. |
| Doi | 10.1037//0012-1649.25.6.963 |
| Wosid | BCI:BCI199089015937 |
| Is Certified Translation | No |
| Dupe Override | No |
| Is Public | Yes |
| Language Text | English |