Measuring Infant Learning: A Novel Paradigm Utilizing End-Point Controlled Movements
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Date
2010-06
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The Ohio State University
Abstract
Introduction: The rate of preterm births is increasing and with developments in neonatal and obstetric care, more preterm infants are surviving. These infants are at risk for both motor and cognitive delays. With earlier diagnosis, earlier interventions can be performed to mediate problems in the preterm infant population. Motor and cognitive disorders, however, are difficult to diagnose in infancy. Currently, the Mobile Paradigm (MP) is used to test infant learning. This paradigm uses spontaneous movements to assess infant learning. The goal of this project is to develop a new method of testing infant learning and memory that uses end-point controlled movements that can be used in a clinical setting to diagnose cognitive delays in preterm infants as well as other infants at risk for delay. Population: Six infants between the ages of 3 and 6 months participated in this study. All infants were full-term except one, who was born at 33 weeks gestation. Methods: Five infants were tested using both the MP and a new end-point controlled paradigm called the Touch Screen Paradigm (TSP). One infant was excluded from the MP due to rolling over. In each paradigm, three phases were tested: Baseline, Acquisition, and Extinction. The Baseline phase measured the infant’s typical behavior. During the Acquisition phase, reinforcement was given for a desired behavior so the infant acquires the desired behavior. During the Extinction phase, no reinforcement was given. An increase in the desired behavior during the Acquisition or Extinction phases as compared to the Baseline phase indicates the infant learned the association between desired behavior and reinforcement. All testing sessions were video recorded and analyzed. Results: On average, the infants demonstrated learning during the TSP and the MP. Individually, all infants demonstrated learning during the MP and four showed learning during the TSP. Conclusions: The TSP shows promise as a clinical tool to diagnose cognitive disorders and problems with learning in infancy. More infants need to be tested with this new paradigm to confirm validity.
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Keywords
infant, early intervention, early diagnosis, learning, Mobile Paradigm, Touch Screen Paradigm