Development of reaching to the body in early infancy: From experiments to robotic models

摘要: We have been observing how infants between 3 and 21 months react when a vibrotactile stimulation (a buzzer) is applied to different parts of their bodies. Responses included in particular movement the stimulated body part successful reaching for removal buzzer. Overall, there pronounced developmental progression from general specific patterns, especially first year. In this article we review series studies conducted then focus on possible mechanisms that might explain what observed. One mechanism rely brain extracting "sensorimotor contingencies" linking motor actions resulting sensory consequences. This account posits are driven by intrinsic motivation guides exploratory activity, at generating random babbling with self-touch occurring spontaneously. Later goal-oriented behavior occurs, as effective tool induce informative contingencies. connect sensorimotor view second appeals neuroscientific concepts cortical maps coordinate transformations. account, improvement precision mediated refinement neuronal primary cortices—the homunculi—as well frontal parietal regions dedicated processing. complement theoretical modeling humanoid robot artificial skin where implemented tactile stimuli learning "somatosensory homunculi". suggest can be extended reflect driving role contingencies human development. our conclusion consider extensions current experiments which take predictions derived both these kinds models.