In the adult human brain, the presence of a system matching the observation and the execution of actions is well established. This mechanism is thought to rely primarily on the contribution of so-called "mirror neurons", cells that are active when a specific gesture is executed as well as when it is seen or heard. Despite the wealth of evidence…

Although important for public health policy, ethnic/racial disparities have rarely been examined among families of young children with Down syndrome. This study compared 144 African-American mothers with 726 European-heritage mothers of newborns with Down syndrome using official birth records in one American state from 1990 through 2002; outcome…

This retrospective study was conducted to examine the relationship between selected variables and performance on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Data were collected from one hundred twenty graduates of a baccalaureate program; graduates completed either the traditional four-year track or an accelerated…

Behavioral outcomes in mother-infant interaction in the first month of life after contact in the recovery room are described. In the first postpartum hour, personnel presented 62 infants to their mothers. Personnel crossed two modes (skin-to-skin versus cradling) and two durations (15 versus 60 minutes) of contact. Instances of maternal and infant…

Thirty papers are presented from a 1981 workshop on the relationship between health care and education for infants with special needs and their families. Following a synopsis of the keynote speech, "Assessment in Early Infancy as an Intervention" by T. Berry Brazelton, three theme speeches are presented: "Building Relationships:…

This new addition of a government pamphlet is a guide offering advice and information to new parents. Sections include: You and Your New Baby (handling the baby, care of the mother, feeding, etc.); First Weeks at Home (equipment, formula preparation, bathing, sleeping, crying, colic, etc.); After the First Weeks (temperament, "difficult" babies,…

The article describes a counseling program that combines both educational and counseling techniques to ease a man's transition to parenthood in a three-stage program (before, during, and after the birth of the first child). It acknowledges that many institutional changes would be necessary to accommodate this program. (LPG)

A factor analysis was performed on the behavioral items of the Brazelton Neonatal Assessment Scale for an urban population of 328 newborns. (Author/JMB)

A sample of six newborn infants were picked up when spontaneously awake, and were presented recorded mother-talk while being held to the shoulder. Control groups received the same recorded stimulus while awake in the crib or received no stimulus trials. (Author/JMB)

Three experiments examined the visual attentiveness of full-term vs. premature infants. (SB)

Two experiments were conducted to (1) replicate the findings of habituation of behavioral responding to a tactile stimulus assuring state control and (2) demonstrate dishabituation either by reinstatement of responding to the original, habituated stimulus or to novel stimuli either within or between modalities. Subjects were newborn Caucasian…

Five experiments using identical reflex modification procedures on neonates and adults suggest developmental differences in processing auditory stimuli. Neonates failed to exhibit reflex inhibition by either prior acoustic or tactile stimuli. Adults exhibited robust reflex inhibition to these same stimuli. Developmental processes implied by these…

To determine whether heart rate increase can be attributed to increased sucking amplitude for sweeter fluids, sucking and heart rate of 20 full-term infants were studied. (MP)

A replication study of directed reaching in children. In response to a visual stimulus the arm and hand movements of infants were videotaped and analyzed to determine whether the position of the ball affected the direction of the infants' extensions. (Author/SS)