Thesis
The influence of context on infant electroencephalography: an examination of brain activity at rest and play
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2019
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/103696
Abstract
It is well known that visual and manual object exploration shape infants' perceptual and cognitive abilities (Perone & Spencer, 2013b; Sigman, 1976, Needham, 2001). Caregivers play an important role in advancing infant play by eliciting and maintaining their attention on objects (Deák et al., 2000), and scaffolding them toward more advanced play (Belsky et al., 1980). While the impact of this everyday parent-infant interaction on cognitive and behavioral development is well-studied, little is known about how these contexts influence the infant brain. This study uses electroencephalography (EEG) to examine the individual differences in infants' brain activity at baseline and while engaged in play with their parent. Seventy-three 6- to 12-month-old infants participated in this study. Infants completed a 60 s baseline task and a 90 s play session with their mother. Infant manual and visual exploration of the toy and maternal attention scaffolding behaviors were coded during play to increase our understanding of how infant brain activity is related to object exploration and parent-infant interactions during play. Results revealed significantly different patterns of infant brain activity at baseline and during play with their mothers. Alpha (6-9 Hz) showed increases over frontal regions between baseline and play, but widespread decreases across posterior regions. Beta (9-30 Hz) and gamma (30-50 Hz) showed significant decreases over frontal regions between baseline and play. This was accompanied by significant increases in gamma power over the posterior region. An examination of scalp-wide alpha power in each condition revealed robust relations between infant object exploration and baseline alpha power down the midline in both hemispheres. Results of EEG analysis are interpreted in light of the unique and developmentally relevant contexts imposed within this study. Implications for future research and prevention efforts are discussed.
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Details
- Title
- The influence of context on infant electroencephalography
- Creators
- Alana Jeanette Anderson
- Contributors
- Sammy Perone (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Human Development, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Identifiers
- 99900525146401842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis