title: Air stepping in response to optic flows that move Toward and Away from the neonate.
abstract: To shed further light on the perceptual regulation of newborn stepping, we compared neonatal air stepping in response to optic flows simulating forward or backward displacement with stepping forward on a surface. Twenty-two 3-day-olds performed four 60 s trials in which they stepped forward on a table (Tactile) or in the air in response to a pattern that moved toward (Toward) or away (Away) from them or was static (Static). Significantly more steps were taken in the Tactile and Toward conditions than the Static condition. The Away condition was intermediate to the other conditions. The knee joint activity across the entire trial was significantly greater in the Toward than the Away condition. Within-limb kinematics and between-limb coordination were very similar for steps taken in the air and on the table, particularly in the Toward and Tactile conditions. These findings highlight that visual and tactile stimulation can equally elicit neonatal stepping.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Psychologie de la Perception, Université Paris Descartes-UMR 8158 CNRS, 45 Rue des Saints Pères, 75006, Paris, France. marianne.barburoth@parisdescartes.fr.
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barbu-Roth
authors.forename: David I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Adeline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Desprès
authors.forename: Ryan J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Streeter
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cabrol
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trujillo
authors.forename: Joseph J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.forename: Joëlle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Provasi
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D057849:Optic Flow / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: infant; locomotion; neonate; optic flow; stepping; vision