4 research outputs found
Wired to Be Social: The Ontogeny of Human Interaction
Background: Newborns come into the world wired to socially interact. Is a propensity to socially oriented action already
present before birth? Twin pregnancies provide a unique opportunity to investigate the social pre-wiring hypothesis.
Although various types of inter-twins contact have been demonstrated starting from the 11th week of gestation, no study
has so far investigated the critical question whether intra-pair contact is the result of motor planning rather then the
accidental outcome of spatial proximity.
Methodology/Principal Findings: Kinematic profiles of movements in five pairs of twin foetuses were studied by using
four-dimensional ultrasonography during two separate recording sessions carried out at the 14th and 18th week of
gestation. We demonstrate that by the 14th week of gestation twin foetuses do not only display movements directed
towards the uterine wall and self-directed movements, but also movements specifically aimed at the co-twin, the
proportion of which increases between the 14th and 18th gestational week. Kinematic analysis revealed that movement
duration was longer and deceleration time was prolonged for other-directed movements compared to movements directed
towards the uterine wall. Similar kinematic profiles were observed for movements directed towards the co-twin and selfdirected
movements aimed at the eye-region, i.e. the most delicate region of the body.
Conclusions/Significance: We conclude that performance of movements towards the co-twin is not accidental: already
starting from the 14th week of gestation twin foetuses execute movements specifically aimed at the co-twin