title: Staring in infancy.
abstract: Staring in the infant is a condition of complete immobility typically accompanied by a lack of active posture. In 14 healthy infants seen in their homes from 3 to 18 weeks, it occurred for periods of 11-84 s in 2 situations: with infant alone lying supine and in face-to-face interaction with the mother. No clear heart rate and respiration patterns were noted during staring. Appearing when the infant is alone, questions a previous assumption that this condition serves to protect the immature infant from overstimulation. This neglected but well-defined condition needs to be considered in the context of the behavioural state concept.
mesh_terms: D002652:Child Behavior; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D009799:Ocular Physiological Phenomena; D011187:Posture; D012119:Respiration; D013997:Time Factors