Neonatal Imitation: A Review Neonatal imitation is the phenomenon of newborn infants displaying imitation of facial expressions, vocalizations, and other behavior in the first hours and days of life. This phenomenon has been observed in humans and numerous other species of animals. This review will discuss the current understanding of the mechanisms underlying this behavior, […]
Alert Inactivity: A State of Focused Neonatal Engagement Defining Alert Inactivity Alert Inactivity is a crucial and distinct state of consciousness observed in the human neonate, representing a period of profound sensory engagement coupled with minimal motor output. This state, often misidentified by laypersons simply as a calm period, is in fact a highly active […]
Orienting Response Definition and Core Mechanism The Orienting Response (OR), frequently referred to in older literature as the orienting reflex, is a fundamental behavioral and physiological reaction exhibited by an organism upon detecting a novel, significant, or sudden change in its surrounding environment. It serves as an automatic mechanism designed to shift an organism’s attentional […]