Eighty at-risk infants were administered the Mental and Motor Scales of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development at 6 and 12 months of age. Test-retest reliability scores of .71 on the Mental Scale and .69 on the Motor Scale were obtained. (Author/JDD)

Surveys progress made in understanding the nervous system's ability to direct its attention to one among several objects, move the eye to focus on one of the objects, and generate limb movements in order to grasp and manipulate the object. (Author/RT)

This study found that motor impairment levels of 12 Asperger syndrome children and 9 high functioning autistic children (ages 7-17) did not differ. Intelligence level was negatively correlated with motor impairment. Fifty percent of Asperger children and 67% of children with autism showed a clinically significant level of motor impairment.…

Examined the effects of hunger on the hand-mouth (HM) behavior of a group of newborn infants. Found that significantly more mouth opening before contacts to the mouth than those to the face occurred before but not after feeding, suggesting some link between HM behavior and hunger state. (MDM)

This article, the second of a three-part series, outlines neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, and cardiopulmonary physical therapy approaches to movement dysfunction in children. The multiple roles of the pediatric physical therapist in teaching, consulting, managing, referring, and conducting clinical research are discussed. (Author/DB)

By applying the principles and methods of mechanics to the musculoskeletal system, new insights can be discovered about control of human limb dynamics in both adults and infants. Reviews previous research on how infants gain control of their limbs and learn to reach in the first year of life. (MDM)

Discusses controversial issues that have arisen in children's sports, including infant exercise programs, trampolines, amenorrhea in the adolescent athlete, coed contact sports, and sport participation by children with Down Syndrome. Policy statements are included from the American Academy of Pediatrics. (JD)

Investigated mechanisms underlying age-related differences in information processing for production of motor responses, especially development of feedforward mechanisms. Studied 6-, 8-, 10-, and 22-year olds under two conditions: without advance information on movement to be made, and with advanced information on movement. Found beyond 6 years of…

This study examined whether midline crossing inhibition (MCI) was present in 13 adults with mild to moderate mental retardation when crossing the midline of the body with both the upper and lower extremities. Results indicated that participants exhibited MCI with both the upper and lower extremities. (Author/CR)

Evaluated in three experiments a dynamic systems theory account of perseverative errors on "A-not-B" task. Found that 9-month-olds perseverated when reaching for identical targets, but made nonperseverative responses when reaching in the presence of a highly distinctive B target. Reach direction was jointly determined by target's…

Analyzes training procedures designed to address specific phonological deficits in six- to eight-year old disabled readers (N=24). Children were taught to connect printed letter clusters with underlying oral-motor activity. Posttest results reveal that all children were successful in segments representing trained reading rules, but disabled and…

A study of 28 infants (ages 8-12 months) investigated their ability to drink from a straw. Results indicate 22 percent were not able to drink from a straw, whereas 78 percent were able to do so. Data failed to reveal any significant differences based on gender, age, or ethnicity. (Contains nine references.) (Author/CR)

Examined whether age-related improvements in children's motor performance result from reduced noise in the output of the sensorimotor system. Found that performance improved with age. The force output signal exhibited increased irregularity and a more broadband frequency profile with increasing age under feedback. There were no age differences in…

The biomechanical characteristics of the ankle during gait of 17 participants with Down syndrome (ages 8-36) were investigated. Participants showed significant decreases of plantar-flexor moments and of A1 and A2 joint powers. Correlation between kinetic and temporal spatial parameters was markedly reduced or weak in comparison to 10 controls.…

This article discusses the combination of skills into sequences. Combining skills into usable, challenging, and meaningful sequences is often neglected or under-used in many school and community game programs. Reasons for this under-use are discussed. Combinations of skills build on proficiency in performing separate skills and serve as…