Development of Infant Action Systems and Exploratory Activity

I use Edward S. Reed's work on action systems as a framework to discuss an ecological approach to the development of infant action. I use illustrations from infant action to argue that during development, infants make use of the intrinsic dynamics of their spontaneous motor activity, under a variety of task constraints, to create a small set of action systems. The paper focuses on dynamical systems that generate oscillations as the basis for observable rhythmic behaviors during infancy, such as rocking, shaking the arms, and babbling. Data are presented to illustrate the development of action systems for crawling, object manipulation, and speech. Particular underlying dynamical systems, under different task constraints, may transform body effectors into task-specific action systems: The leg becomes a "kicker," the arm holding a rattle becomes a "shaker," and the vocal tract a "talker

Action (physics · Art history · Cognitive psychology · Cognitive science · Physics · Tribute · Child and Animal Learning Development · History · Infant Health and Development · Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior · Psychology

• The origins of intelligence in children.

  Jean Piaget, Margaret Cook•1952

  Add to list

• Prosody During Disyllable Production of Full-Term and Preterm Infants

  Eugene C Goldfield•Ecological Psychology•1999

  Add to list

• Transition from rocking to crawling

  Eugene C Goldfield•Developmental Psychology•1989

  Add to list