Arms visibility affects manual preference in infants

Author(s)

Lívia Silveira Pogetti ; Rosana Machado de Souza ; Eloísa Tudella ^[3] ; Luis Augusto Teixeira ^[4]

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Motriz: rev. educ. fis.; v. 19, n. 1, p. 160-170, 2013-03-00.

Abstract

An interesting aspect about formation of human manual preference in early ages is the extent to which it is affected by afferent information. This study aimed at investigating the effect of visual occlusion of the preferred arm on manual preference and motor performance in infants. Five 5-month-old infants performed reaching movements under full vision or occlusion of their preferred arm. Motor performance was assessed through kinematic measures. Results indicated that visual occlusion led to reduction of frequency of unimanual reaches using the visually occluded arm. Visual occlusion did not impair motor performance. These results indicate that formation of manual preference during motor development is affected by availability of visual afference of the arms, although infants seem to have reduced capacity to use vision for motor control. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 09/15193-3 - Visibility of arms in the action of reaching in infants: effect on handedness and motor control
• Grantee: Livia Silveira Pogetti
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 10/01581-9 - Origin, amplification and diffusion of manual preference in childhood and its relation with intermanual asymmetry of performance
• Grantee: Rosana Machado de Souza
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate