Infant vocal-motor coordination: precursor to the gesture-speech system?
This study was designed to provide a general picture of infant vocal-motor coordination and test predictions generated by Iverson and Thelen's (1999) model of the development of the gesture-speech system. Forty-seven 6- to 9-month-old infants were videotaped with a primary caregiver during rattle and toy play. Results indicated an age-related increase in frequency of vocal-motor coordination, greater coordination with arm (specifically right arm) than leg or torso movements, and a temporal pattern similar to that in adult gesture-speech coproductions. Rhythmic vocalizations (consonant-vowel repetitions) were more likely to occur with than without rhythmic movement, and with rhythmic manual than with nonmanual activity, and the rate of vocal-manual coordination was higher in babblers than in prebabblers.
Iverson
Jana M
JM
Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri-Columbia, USA. jiverson@pitt.edu
Fagan
Mary K
MK
D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D003142:Communication; D005121:Extremities / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005868:Gestures; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D010507:Periodicity; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology*; D014743:Videotape Recording