Sensory-Feedback Analysis of Infant Control of the Behavioral Environment

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Abstract
These experiments test the interpretation that behavioral development occurs as a process of differentiation and integration of the space-organized sensory-feedback mechanisms of posture (as a generalized gravitational reference system of movement control), dynamic transport movement (as a right-left reference axis of sensory-feedback control), and manipulation movements. The specific hypothesis was that infants acquire generalized control of their environment by means of orientative transport movements before such control is matured in terms of manipulative movements. Many different distinctive techniques of electronic behavior recording and environmental control devices were built that would enable the 58 infants to control their visual, auditory and tactual environments by means of the simplest kinds of manipulative movements. Sensory-feedback control of the visual environment by means of orientation motion was tested by means of a special rotating crib and closed-circuit television system in which the infant had to crawl or turn to maintain vision of an image of his mother, other persons, or objects. Results confirmed the main hypothesis that orientative sensory-feedback regulation of the visual environment develops with age up to about 20 months, and appears months in advance of articulated sensory-feedback control of specific stimuli by means of manual movements, no matter how simple.

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