The mechanisms of neural responses to visual-tactile integration

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K21001
• Project/Area Number (Other): 18H05809 (2018)
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund (2019); Single-year Grants (2018)
• Review Section: 0110:Psychology and related fields
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Tanaka Yukari 京都大学, 教育学研究科, 助教 (00794075)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-08-24 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 乳児 / 脳波 / 触覚 / 多感覚 / 統合 / 身体接触 / 内受容感覚

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of the experience of being touched by others on infants' physiological state and information processing in the brain. Electrocardiograms (ECG) and electroencephalograms (EEG) of 5-9 month old infants when presented with two strangers' faces. During the presentation of one face, the experimenter gently stroked the infant's foot (touch condition) and during the presention of the other face, the experimenter did not touched infants' body (non-touch condition). We then analyzed ECGs and EEGs of the infants when they were presented with the same two faces. The results showed that brain activity was stronger in the touch condition than in the non-touch condition (the relationship between ECG and EEG is being analyzed). The result suggests that the experience of being touched by others affects infants' information processing in their brains.

Free Research Field

発達科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の研究成果として、他者に触れられるという経験が、乳児の脳活動を高めることが実験的アプローチによって明らかとなった。これまで、ほ乳類において、発達初期の親子間身体接触が、こども側の認知や情動の発達、アタッチメント等に影響を与えることを示してきた。本研究成果は、新たに、乳児の身体接触が乳児の脳機能発達を促進する可能性を示唆するものである。本研究は、発達初期の身体接触が、どのような仕組みで乳児期の心の発達に寄与するのかについての理解を深めることに寄与する。