Tactual Exploration by Normal Infants

Abstract

SUMMARY The age of onset for tactual exploration of the fingers, body (torso), knee, foot and penis by the fingers was determined in 100 normal infants. Exploration of the mouth, face, head, ears, nose and eyes was also studied by daily observations in the first three days of life in a second sample of 12 normal newborns, and the age of onset was recorded. The data show that the ability of the normal infant to explore by touch the various parts of his body appears to have a definite age of onset and a definite sequence. RÉSUMÉ L'exploration tactile chez les nourrissons normaux L'âge de début de l'exploration tactile des doigts, du corps (torse), du genou, du pied et du penis par les doigts a été déterminé chez 100 nourrissons normaux. L'exploration par les doigts de la bouche, de la figure, de la tête, des oreilles, du nez et des yeux a été étudiée intensivement par des observations journalières dans les trois premiers jours de la vie chez un second échantillon de 12 nouveaux‐nés normaux et l'âge de début a été relevé. Les données montrent que la capacité du nourrisson normal d'explorer par le tact les différentes parties de son corps est définie dans son apparition et dans la séquence de son développement. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Taktile Exploration normaler Säuglinge Bei 100 normalen Säuglingen wurde das Alter bestimmt, in dem sie mit der taktilen Exploration der Finger, des Körpers (Rumpf), des Knies, des Fusses und des Penis mit den Fingern beginnen. In einer zweiten Untersuchungsreihe wurde bei 12 Säuglingen durch sehr genaue tägliche Beobachtungen innerhalb der ersten drei Lebenstage der Beginn der Exploration des Mundes, Gesichtes, Kopfes, der Ohren, Nase und Augen untersucht. Die Daten zeigen, dass die Fähigkeit des normalen Säuglings, die verschiedenen Teile seines Körpers durch Berühren zu erforschen, offenbar mit einem bestimmten Alter beginnt und in bestimmter Folge abläuft. RESUMEN Exploración tactil en lactantes normales Se determinó en 100 lactantes normales la edad de comienzo para la exploración tactil de los dedos, cuerpo (torso), rodillas, pie y pene por medio de los dedos. La exploración con los dedos de la boca, cara, cabeza, orejas, nariz y ojos fue estudiada intensamente con observaciones diarias en los primeros tres dias de vida en una segunda muestra de 12 recién nacidos normales anotándose la edad de comienzo. Los datos muestran que la habilidad del lactante normal para explorar por el tacto diversas partes de su cuerpo parece tener una edad definida de comienzo y de continuación.

Comprehension and production of body part labels in 2‐ to 3‐year‐old children

“…What could determine which parts of body are known first, and which are learned later? Several authors have associated the increasing ability to recognize body parts with the progressive exposure to sensory input in the developing child as she or he explores, and learns from, the environment (Ayres, 1961; Kravitz, Goldenberg, & Neyhus, 1978; Reeves, 1985; Schilder, 1964). Some body parts are associated with extensive sensory input via tactile explorations earlier in life, which may explain why they emerge early in the children's verbal (comprehension) repertoires.…”

Representation of Others' Beliefs

“…Neisser (1991) demonstrated that infants acquire the self-perception first through transactions with the environment (ecological self) and others (interpersonal self), implying that self is shaped by physical and social information. Within a few weeks of birth, infants rudimentarily percept themselves by finger explosion (Kravitz et al, 1978), and be more sensitive to the information related to their own experience (Filippetti et al, 2013). With the cognitive ability maturing, infants start to recognize themselves beyond sense perception.…”

Goal Directed Behaviours

“…Prenatally, the functional significance of touch could be that it affords fetuses the first opportunity to learn about the areas and variations of sensitivity of their body as well as define their body limit in relation to the intrauterine environment (Kravitz, Goldenberg, & Neyhus, 1978) and potentially the extra-uterine environment as suggested by Marx & Nagy (2015). Through touch fetuses might learn a sense of self by differentiating between their own body and others, including the external environment and other bodies.…”