| Budget Amount *help |
¥2,700,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,700,000)
Fiscal Year 2001: ¥800,000 (Direct Cost: ¥800,000)
Fiscal Year 2000: ¥1,900,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,900,000)
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| Research Abstract |
Peripheral optic flow plays an important role in generating a sense of self-movement, and hence, is important for maintaining postural stability. Peripheral optic flow is so important that it can override information from the vestibular system and the muscular system and cause loss of postural support even when the child is stable relative to gravity.
We have proposed that it is experience with locomotion that makes functional peripheral visual flow for postural stability (Campos et al., 2000). There is need to replicate and extend the positive findings by Higgins, Campos, and Kermoian (1996), showing a link between locomotor experience and visual proprioception (the use of visual information to determine self-movement).
This study is such a replication and extension. In addition to using measures of postural compensation, we are using indices of emotion to test whether peripheral optic flow brings about fearfulness, but principally in infants with locomotor experience.
In general, the results replicate the findings by Higgins et al. (1996); locomotor experience facilitates use of peripheral visual information for postural control.
The study extends these findings by showing that, at least for walker infants, there is greater emotional reactivity to peripheral visual proprioception as a consequence of locomotor experience.
There are some important unexpected findings that need explanation. Future research is needed to clarify our findings.
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