Article ID: 35.403
Human development constitutes complex, self-organizing, and emergent processes that unfold over time, producing both immediate and long-term influences on behavior and cognition. These processes are not merely the result of an infant's intentionality or future predictions, especially in the early stages of life when intentionality and voluntary control are immature. Instead, development unfolds through a cascade of interactions, with each step building upon and influencing the next, raising the following critical question: how can we capture the mechanisms driving early development? This study explores the emergence of developmental phenomena by focusing on the structurization of the sensorimotor system during early development, considering it foundational for this emergence. We emphasize on the importance of embodiment and the information structures formed through spontaneous sensorimotor interactions. Using empirical measurements and simulations, we present a clear framework that illustrates how sensorimotor interactions support early human development. Finally, we discuss how these foundational sensorimotor processes contribute to broader developmental trajectories and influence future behavioral and cognitive functions.
【Research Impact】
This study examines the self-organizing and cascading sensorimotor development that occurs in early infancy. By exploring developmental phenomena through the lens of emergence, sensorimotor information, and its structural organization, as well as by employing empirical measurements and simulations, we address the complexities and dynamics that make it challenging to understand these processes. Conceptualizing developmental cascades as information structures formed through sensorimotor interactions, this study provides a foundational framework for understanding the mechanisms driving early human development.
