Oropharyngeal control of hand-mouth coordination in newborn infants.

This research identifies a coordinative structure of action that integrates hand and mouth activities within hours after birth. Infants in the supine position received 7 presentations of 12% sucrose solution. Differences in hand–mouth coordination relative to preceding and succeeding epochs of nonsucrose presentation were striking: 32% of the sucrose period was spent by infants with hands inside the mouth or in contact with it, and 18%, for the same measures during periods of nonsucrose delivery. In addition the hand was brought to the mouth 50% more often during the sucrose period. These data provide evidence for oropharyngeal control over intergration of gross motor patterns of hand movement as they relate to the mouth. A possible functional significance of these findings is discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)