An Exploratory Behavioral Study in Children of Four Years of Age on the Hypothesis of a Two Streams System in Touch Perception and Language Development

A two streams system seems to exist for tactile perception.We asked kindergarten children to identify(semantic)and describe the function of grasped unseen instruments of their daily life(fork,knife,spoon,brush,toothbrush,pencil,and scissor),and then,to simulate its use(pragmatic).The capacity to describe the function of the set of instruments was significantly superior to that of identifying them by name,although there was a significant direct association between identification and description of the function in the responses to the set of instruments.The simulation of the instrument function was of two types:(i)use―the child simulated how the instrument is grasped and used;and(ii)incorporation―the child simulated the function of the instrument with her/his own hand.The results support the hypothesis of a two streams tactile system(semantic and pragmatic),and that kindergarten children have the ability to incorporate functional properties of instruments of their daily life,probably as a support for language development.

Haptic Perception of Physical and Functional Properties of Table Tennis and Badminton Rackets in Children and Elderly

The haptic perception affords detection of the physical and functional properties of an instrument actively sustained.Fifty-seven children(8.82±0.38 years old)and 64 elderlies(71.3±4.46 years old)estimated the length and the distance of the center of percussion for two table tennis rackets and a badminton racket.The eigenvalues of each racket for length and distance from the wrist to the center of percussion were calculated.The present study confirmed the results obtained with field tennis rackets,extending them to table tennis and badminton rackets,and also to children.The elderlies preserved and children had the capacity of haptically detect physical and functional properties of table tennis and badminton rackets.The weight of the rackets affected properties estimations.The eigenvalues may be a valid tool for the definition of physical and functional properties of sport instruments,allowing better adjustment to different motor development stages.

Haptic Perception and Motor Behaviors in Infants Users of Ergonomic Pacifiers

Babies react to changes in the characteristics of objects,presenting haptic recognition after a period of familiarization.We aimed to verify if infants responded to the different spatial orientations of an ergonomic pacifier in the mouth.With informed consent,10 babies(271.6±60.8 days),users of ergonomic pacifiers,revealed motor behaviors that were divisible into three categories,sometimes through successive actions(i.e.,perception-action cycles were present):(i)repositioned correctly the pacifier,through different modes;(ii)repositioned it,but incorrectly,through different modes;and(iii)rejected the pacifier.So,these babies detected the incorrect position of the pacifier,and acted according to the principle of motor equivalence,since they implemented variations of a solution for the same need.

Fisher’(1967)Ambiguity Revised:A Catastrophe Theory’ Approach(I)

Half of a century has passed on Fisher’ambiguity pictures(1967).To celebrate this occasion,we have analysed his data,using the polynomial function for a cusp catastrophe,and we have discussed the results under dynamical systems theory’propositions.

Respiratory Control Technique and Heart Rate Variability in a Child With Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder:A Case Study

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder(ADHD)is associated to a lower respiratory sinus arrhythmia(RSA)and to a lower heart rate variability(HRV).The purpose of this study is to verify if through breath control,an ADHD boy(9 years old)could increase HRV.During breathing control,the child significantly reduced breathing frequency(BF)and heart rate(HR);significantly augmented mean RR interval and pNN50;augmented HRVi(ns)and HF(ns);and reduced LF/HF ratio(ns).Consequently,during short training sessions,this child had the capacity to augment various parameters of HRV,suggesting an increasing of vagal activity.If vagal activity was reinforced during breathing control,it means that maybe a process of bottom-up adjustment of attention and emotional responses can be promoted.