Developing sensory circuits exhibit different patterns of spontaneous activity, patterns that
are related to the construction and refinement of functional networks. During the …

We explore the application of a wide range of sensory stimulation technologies to the area of
sleep and dream engineering. We begin by emphasizing the causal role of the body in …

Young animals engage in variable exploratory behaviors essential for the development of
neural circuitry and adult motor control, yet the neural basis of these behaviors is largely …

Background Although there is data on the spontaneous behavioural repertoire of the fetus,
studies on their behavioural responses to external stimulation are scarce. Aim, Methods The …

It is still not known how the 'rudimentary'movements of fetuses and infants are transformed
into the coordinated, flexible and adaptive movements of adults. In addressing this important …

Spontaneous activity in the sensory periphery drives infant brain activity and is thought to
contribute to the formation of retinotopic and somatotopic maps [1–3]. In infant rats during …

Cortical development is an activity-dependent process [1–3]. Regarding the role of activity in
the developing somatosensory cortex, one persistent debate concerns the importance of …

Background During active (or REM) sleep, infant mammals exhibit myoclonic twitches of
skeletal muscles throughout the body, generating jerky, discrete movements of the distal …

Play is phylogenetically widespread, and there are many proposed theories and fitness
benefits of play. However, we still need a theoretical framework that unifies our …

Adults primarily walk to reach a new location, but why do infants walk? Do infants, like
adults, walk to travel to a distant goal? We observed 30 13‐month‐old and 30 19‐month‐old …