Abstract
Developmental studies can inform motor neuroscience by describing the initial state of the perception-action system, identifying change and the emergence of new forms, and by determining the processes which engender these changes. We describe a research program studying the limb dynamics of human infants using a combination of kinematics, kinetics, and EMG measures. The dynamics of spontaneous kicking reveal the self-organizing qualities of the neuromotor system. The transition from spontaneous waving to reaching suggests ways by which intention is mapped onto these self-organizing qualities. We conclude with a discussion of developmental processes of skill acquisition.
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© 1991 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
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Thelen, E., Jensen, J.L., Kamm, K., Corbetta, D., Schneider, K., Zernicke, R.F. (1991). Infant Motor Development: Implications for Motor Neuroscience. In: Requin, J., Stelmach, G.E. (eds) Tutorials in Motor Neuroscience. NATO ASI Series, vol 62. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-3626-6_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-3626-6_5
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