Immediate effects of early environmental enrichment on infant motor behavior through the use of an open-area body-weight support system
Date
2016
Authors
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
Exposure to an Enriched Environment (EE) that involves various levels of motor, sensory, and cognitive stimulation has been shown to enhance neuroplasticity, memory function, and motor ability in animals. Neurobehavioral research has demonstrated the capacity of the developing human brain to adjust to environmental changes, and has emphasized the positive role of early experiences on development. Despite the apparent link between EE exposure, experiences, and development, EE paradigms have not been adequately applied in human studies. Thus, the effect of such exposure on the motor behavior and learning of infants is still not well studied. Especially for an atypical population, like that of infants diagnosed with Down syndrome (DS), incorporating EE exposure in their early interventions may be critical for advancing their development. ☐ Infants with DS achieve their motor milestones significantly later than their typically developing (TD) peers, and their immobility lessens the opportunities for forming early experiences, which in turn may affect early brain changes as well as perception, cognition, and language development. One common intervention approach to address immobility involves body weight supported treadmill (BWSTT) training. BWSTT does not typically include an EE. ☐ The focus of this dissertation work was to bridge EE exposure and body weight support devices. More specifically, this project was an initial attempt to combine an EE paradigm and an innovative “open-area body weight support system” (BWSS) to enhance motor behaviors beyond an infant’s current level of ability. The feasibility and short-term effects of this new paradigm application in non-walking TD and infants with DS was assessed. Aims 1 and 2 were directed toward the evaluation of the immediate change in performance of TD infants in and out of the BWSS in the lab EE. Aim 3 explored the change in the performance of infants with DS in and out of the BWSS in the lab EE. Aim 4 assessed the feasibility of the paradigm in the home and evaluated the new paradigm from the family’s point of view. The latter is important since the future goal is to move beyond the lab and into the community including the home (aka Harness House). ☐ The results suggest this paradigm is feasible for application in both populations in the lab and potentially in home settings. All infants and their families successfully completed the study and happily participated in every session. Effects on certain tasks were observed in and out of the BWSS even within one session emphasizing the capability of young infants to rapidly adapt to changes in the environment. In addition, effects were observed after the short-term exposure when infants were out of the BWSS. These short-term effects were more evident for the TD infants than the infants with DS. ☐ Three factors are discussed which, in part, may explain the capacity of infants to display rapid changes in the EE: 1) infants’ current level of ability, 2) infants’ previous experiences, and 3) the level of complexity the task imposes. More formal group studies are required to further describe the impact of these and other factors on infants’ behavior within the EE. ☐ This study improved our understanding of infants’ performance in EEs and how BWS can be used to enhance their performance. Next steps include a) the long-term application with a much larger sample of infants, b) the examination of the effect that this paradigm may have on the onset of motor skills, and c) the testing of this paradigm on other populations that present mobility delays.