ERIC Number: EJ830874
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006-Feb
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1525-0008
EISSN: N/A
Do Human Fetuses Anticipate Self-Oriented Actions? A Study by Four-Dimensional (4D) Ultrasonography
Myowa-Yamakoshi, Masako; Takeshita, Hideko
Infancy, v10 n3 p289-301 Feb 2006
Using four-dimensional (4D) ultrasonography, arm and hand movements toward the face were examined in 27 human fetuses at 19 to 35 weeks of gestation, thereby enabling the continuous monitoring of their faces and other surface features such as the extremities. More than half of the observed arm movements resulted in the hand touching the mouth either directly or indirectly. Moreover, the fetuses opened their mouths before their hands came in contact with their mouths. Such fetal "anticipatory" behavior suggests the possibility that human fetuses perceive the manner in which they should move their hands to make contact with their mouths. Such movements are based on knowledge about intersensorimotor relations in their bodies. (Contains 5 figures and 2 tables.)
Descriptors: Pregnancy, Motor Reactions, Infant Behavior, Human Body, Perceptual Motor Coordination, Foreign Countries, Handedness, Gender Differences, Repetition, Age Differences, Correlation
Psychology Press. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Japan
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A