title: Movement-attention coupling in infancy and attention problems in childhood.
abstract: Adaptive behavior requires the integration of body movement and attention. Therefore, individual differences in integration of movement and attention during infancy may have significance for development. We contacted families whose 8-year-old children (n=26; 16 females, 10 males; mean age 8 y 2 mo, SD 8 mo) participated in a previous study of movement-attention coupling at 1 or 3 months of age, to assess parent-reported attention or hyperactivity problems using the Child Behavior Checklist and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th edn) criteria. Parent-reported attention problems at 8 years of age were associated with less suppression of body movement at onset of looking, and greater rebound of body movement following its initial suppression at 3 months, but not at 1 month. Parent-reported hyperactivity was not related to any of the infant movement-attention measures. Results suggests that the dynamic integration of movement and attention early in life may have functional significance for the development of attention problems in childhood.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
authors.forename: Allison H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: Sarah E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Watamura
authors.forename: Steven S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Robertson
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001288:Attention; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*