Animacy and propulsion in infancy: Tracking, waving and reaching to self‐propelled and induced moving objects

Abstract

Infants from 16 to 20 weeks were videotaped while being presented with objects traversing a 60 cm distance. Four conditions were tested: (1) induced movement, holding the object; (2) induced movement, pushing the object; (3) selfpropelled mechanical movement, object moving by an internal clockwork; (4) self-propelled biological movement, animate object moving by internal impulse. In tracking, the self-propelled but inanimate and mechanically moving object with the more straight and predictable trajectory attracted most visual attention. In arm movements, the self-propelled but relatively unpredictably moving animate object was reliably distinguished from inanimate objects. It appeared that the action system was less dependent on objects taking a straight and predictable course. Emerging with the onset of goal-directed reaches, the distinction of an internal locus of propulsion in objects was overriding the nearly exclusive response towards animacy occurring in waving. Thus, a distinction of different types of object motion could be found in infants' developing action system.

Parents’ Autistic Personality Traits and Sex-Biased Family Ratio Determine the Amount of Technical Toy Choice

“…We called this priority the standard toy choice pattern because it showed in both men and women – parent or not – and in men in an even more pronounced fashion than in women. This result confirmed our expectation that life-like figures and cuddly toys would be less interesting (Crichton and Lange-Küttner, 1999; Servin et al, 1999).…”

“…As such, neither personality feature is positive or negative. Previous research showed that as soon as infants can reach for toys at 4–5 months of age, they prefer mechanically moving toys because they are more predictable than live animals and more interesting than cuddly toys (Crichton and Lange-Küttner, 1999). Moreover, recent research showed no looking preferences for sex-specific toys and faces in 4- and 5-months old infants (Escudero et al, 2013), thus, these authors suggested that there is no innate sex-related toy choice bias in the infants themselves.…”

Development and neurophysiology of mentalizing

“…They track objects with self-propelled movement (Crichton & Lange Kuettner 1999). They also show more interest in the kinematic patterns of point-light displays of a person walking than of random movement (Bertenthal et al 1984).…”

“…Not only eye movements but also other forms of biological motion seem to have a privileged status in attracting infants' attention at an extremely early age. They track objects with self-propelled movement (Crichton & Lange Kuettner 1999). They also show more interest in the kinematic patterns of point-light displays of a person walking than of random movement (Bertenthal et al 1984).…”

Behavioural Development and Mental Health in Infancy: Object Retrieval

“…However, while perception is a crucial ability which becomes refined even at a later age (Lange-Kiittner, 2000), action and interaction seems to provide the major incentive for the infant to gain relevant knowledge about the object world outside his or her own body (Crichton and Lange-Kiittner, 1999). The maturation of the frontal lobes in the first year of life appears to start very early, already with the beginning of goal-directed co-ordinated reaching towards objects at about four to five months (Diamond, 1991;Von Hofsten and Fazel-Zandy, 1984).…”