Exploratory behavior in Down's syndrome and normal infants.

Abstract

Comparisons were made of 10 Down's syndrome and 10 normal 12-month-old infants of mouthing, manipulative and visual measures of exploratory behavior. Infants were familiarized with a bell and duration measures were obtained for each behavior. No differences in any explatory behaviors were evident during this phase. Next, infants were presented with the bell paired with 15 novel objects, one at a time. Both groups demonstrated a preference for novelty in each mode of exploration. The normal infants mouthed and manipulated novel objects for longer periods of time than the Down's syndrome infants. No differences were found for visual exploration. Response decrement occured to the novel objects for the Down's syndrome infants. Differential exploratory behavior is of interest because of its relationship to cognitive development.