DEVELOPMENT OF SKILLS IN INFANTS

申请资金设立ADAMHA研究科学家奖， 研究婴儿技能的获得。 有一个亲密的 发展知觉运动技能和所有其他领域之间的关系 在生命早期的精神功能。 拟议的研究是 从动态系统的角度来看。 因此，研究战略 有两个方面：（1）提供详细的发展描述 伸手和行走的变化以及它们之间的多重相互作用 子系统，以及（2）识别和实验操纵代理， 对新行为形式的出现至关重要。 具体 目的1是完成纵向数据的运动学分析， 动力学和婴儿达到的肌肉模式，每周从 3-52周的4只婴儿。 这将描述从 从自发到目标导向，准确性的提高， 速度和平稳性，以及动态的节段力， 这些变化背后的肌肉模式。 具体目标二是 对6个月至18个月的婴儿进行纵向研究 追踪跑台的运动学、动力学及肌电特性 台阶、支撑台阶和独立行走。 本研究将 描述神经肌肉前体的发育转变， 行走指婴儿站立、负重、独立向前移动。 具体目标3是进行实验， 运动受到轻微拖曳的干扰，这模拟了自然的 发生的内部和外部的力量环境。 本研究 研究婴儿如何检测和调整肌肉， 本体感受输入 具体目标4是一系列的实验 研究婴儿如何获得新的运动形式。 婴儿将 训练使用双边踢激活移动的，和条件 以及促进学习和记忆新模式的环境， 协调将被操纵。 这些研究对（1） 阐明基本的发展过程;（2）了解基本的 感知-运动协调和控制机制;（3）影响 临床实践。

Funds are requested for an ADAMHA Research Scientist Award to support research in the acquisition of skills in infants. There is an intimate relation between developing perceptual-motor skills and all other areas of mental functioning during early life. The proposed studies are informed by a dynamic systems perspective. Thus, the research strategy is twofold: (1) to provide a detailed description of the developmental changes in reaching and walking and their multiple interacting subsystems, and (2) to identify and experimentally manipulate agents and processes critical to the emergence of new behavioral forms. Specific aim 1 is to complete the analysis of longitudinal data on the kinematics, kinetics, and muscle patterns of infant reaching, collected weekly from 4 infants from weeks 3-52. This will describe the transition from spontaneous to goal-directed reaching, the improvements in the accuracy, speed and smoothness in reaching, and the dynamic segmental forces and muscle patterns that underlie these changes. Specific aim 2 is to conduct a longitudinal study of infants between 6 months and 18 months to trace the kinematic, kinetic and EMG characteristics of treadmill steps, supported steps, and independent walking. This study will describe the developmental transition in the neuromuscular precursors of walking when infants stand, bear weight, and move forward independently. Specific aim 3 is to conduct experiments where kicking and reaching movements are perturbed by a slight tug, which simulates the naturally occurring internal and external force environment. This study investigates how infants detect and adjust their muscles to proprioceptive input. Specific aim 4 is a series of experiments investigating how infants acquire new motor forms. Infants will be trained to use bilateral kicks to activate a mobile, and the conditions and contexts that facilitate learning and remembering the new pattern of coordination will be manipulated. These studies are important to (1) illuminate basic developmental processes; (2) understand fundamental mechanisms of perceptual-motor coordination and control; and (3) impact on clinical practice.