Self-organizing systems and infant motor development
Developmental ReviewPublished 1 March 1987
Esther Thelen, J. A. Scott Kelso, Alan Fogel
Citations371
SJR quartileQ1
SJR score2.92
SNIP3.09
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Abstract
A dynamical systems approach is used to characterize early motor development. Contemporary theories of motor performance emphasize the self-organizing and autonomous properties of muscle synergies as an example of the dynamical behavior of complex, nonlinear systems. The organization of leg movements in infants is consistent with the dynamical approach. Using this perspective, we view skill development as a multidimensional, emergent phenomenon. The developmental principles derived from motor behavior may apply to other domains.
Keywords
PsychologyNeuroscienceEngineering
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