Active touch in late‐preterm and early‐term neonates

Abstract

An infant-controlled tactile habituation without visual control procedure was used to evaluate the ability of 32 late-preterm neonates (mean gestational age: 34 weeks) and 32 early-term neonates (mean gestational age: 38 weeks) to actively explore with hands objects varying in texture (smooth, granular). Holding time and Hand Pressure Frequency (HPF) were recorded. Holding time decreased as habituation progressed in both group of neonates. Holding time increased from habituation trials to test trials only in early-term neonates. A reaction to novelty was only observed in early-term neonates. During habituation, HPF remained unchanged in late-preterm infants whereas HPF decreased in early-term infants. HPF increased from habituation trials to test trials in early-term neonates and in late-preterm infants. However, reaction to novelty was only observed for early-term infants. The significance of these results is discussed in reference to brain maturation in preterm infants.

The flexion withdrawal reflex increases in premature infants at 22–26 weeks of gestation due to changes in spinal cord excitability

“…Differences in the skin cornification processes in utero and in a NICU setting may explain the finding. Differences in the haptic perception of premature infants during their NICU stay may be relevant for the changes in the reflex threshold, particularly in comparison with term infants .…”

An fMRI Compatible Smart Device for Measuring Palmar Grasping Actions in Newborns

“…With the advancement of technological devices, novel methods emerged for assessing motor function in early infancy [ 7 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 18 , 19 , 42 , 43 ]. In particular, grasping behavior was studied in infants in terms of strength and holding time, with some studies proposing novel systems to investigate the relationship of these variables with intrinsic (e.g., infant sex [ 15 ], weight [ 27 ], preterm birth [ 1 ]) and extrinsic factors (e.g., object shape and texture [ 7 ]). Moreover, systems for objective assessment of grasping actions were developed to detect early abnormal neuromotor development and based on the premise that this could guide prompt intervention to improve functional outcome [ 43 , 44 ].…”

“…Moreover, systems for objective assessment of grasping actions were developed to detect early abnormal neuromotor development and based on the premise that this could guide prompt intervention to improve functional outcome [ 43 , 44 ]. The main findings of the state-of-the-art showed a higher grasping strength and pronounced handedness symmetry in males more than females [ 15 ]; a decrease in holding time when the same object was repetitively put in the newborn infant’s hand and an increase when its shape and smoothness changed [ 7 ]; and longer holding times in preterm in comparison to term neonates with significant differences related to sex [ 15 ].…”

“…Consequently, there is a pressing need for new technologies that could enable the accurate measurement of grasping behavior and thus objectively evaluate sensorimotor function in the newborn. The use of such a technology could provide further insights into the relationship between motor behavior and underlying patterns of brain activity when combined with neuroimaging techniques [ 7 ]. This knowledge may be crucial in the context of early brain injury at a time when there is a high capacity for compensatory neural plasticity and thus the potential to improve functional outcome through patient-specific tailored therapies [ 8 , 9 ].…”

Experimental evidence of structural representation of hands in early infancy

“…Hands also play a major part in directing attention through pointing (Daum, Ulber, & Gredebäck, 2013). Moreover, starting early in life, hands are used to explore the world haptically (Molina et al, 2015; Rochat, 1989). However, very little is known about infants’ representation of hands.…”