粗細觸覺介質操作對嬰兒凝視行為之影響

The Effect of Gross and Fine Tactile Media on Infant Gaze Behavior

嬰兒期是人類生命中最重要的時期，感知與凝視行為在嬰兒期扮演重要的角色。嬰兒透過感知與凝視行為發展並習得技能，學會解決許多問題。本研究透過手部操作二種不同觸覺介質刺激：粗介質玩具組（gross tools, GT）和細介質玩具組（fine tools, FT），檢驗嬰兒凝視次數與凝視時間。以實驗方式募集24名6至12個月嬰兒，由嬰兒母親抽籤並隨機分配為GT組（N=12）和FT組（N=12），分別給予不同觸覺介質，同時以嬰兒前方之單一紅色燈光閃燈，頻率為4分鐘內每24秒出現一次，每次持續2秒鐘，觀察嬰兒抬頭凝視紅色燈光的次數和時間。研究結果為粗、細觸覺介質組，在凝視次數與凝視時間皆無統計上之顯著差異，故推論6至12個月嬰兒的凝視行為，尚不致於受到粗介質玩具或細介質玩具之影響。另在嬰兒凝視行為相關動作行為觀察方面，發現嬰兒觸覺介質的手部操作行為和凝視行為與其是否可獨立坐姿有關，意即無法獨立坐姿的嬰兒，較無法表現出流暢的手部操作與凝視行為。

Infancy is the most important stage in human development, during which perception and gaze behavior play a vital role in skill acquisition and problem-solving. This study examined investigates how tactile stimuli of varying textures—gross tools (GT) and fine tools (FT)—affect gaze frequency and duration during infant hand manipulation.. Based on a randomized experimental design, 24 infants from 6 to 12 months old were recruited and assigned to either the GT (N=12) or FT group (N=12) through a lottery drawn by their mothers. Each group was provided with their respective tactile stimuli while a single red light, positioned in front of the infants, flashed at 24-second intervals over a 4-minute period, with each flash lasting 2 seconds. Infant responses were measured by the frequency and duration of upward gazes toward the light. The results indicated no statistically significant differences in gaze frequency or duration between the GT and FT groups. Thus, it can be inferred that gaze behavior in infants aged 6 to 12 months is not yet significantly affected by either gross or fine tools. Further observations of motor behavior in relation to gaze revealed that an infant’s tactile media manipulation and gaze behavior were linked to their capacity for independent sitting. Specifically, infants who had not yet achieved independent sitting displayed less fluid hand manipulation and gaze behaviors.