Thousands of firing neurons in his central nervous system enable him to achieve his desired goal: to explore that interesting object with his mouth.īabies continue to use this multiple sensory input to maneuver through space.
His brain then sends signals back to his body, prompting further coordination of his vision, muscle control, and movement planning. There are nerve endings in the joints and muscles in his fingers, wrist, and arm that send signals to his brain. Proprioception - the sense of die position and movement of his own body - helps him control his movements.
He shakes it, looks at it, shakes it again, and then brings it to his mouth. For example, 6-month-old Jason holds a rattle and intently examines it. When a baby can hold objects, he has reached a milestone in his ability to understand spatial relationships. Young infants visually discover their bodies when they first notice their hands. An emerging, unconscious "body sense" helps her orient herself in relation to other people and objects. The sight of a smiling face, the tactile pressure of a blanket, and even the scent of her father plays a role in a baby's ability to collect and organize herself. Annie gradually calms, makes eye contact, and begins a little cooing duet with her dad.Įven when distressed, young babies are born equipped to respond to pleasant sensory experiences. Her father talks to her softly, gently tucking in her arms and legs and swaddling her with a soft blanket. She emits a high-pitched wail while flailing her limbs.