thesis

Les composantes sensori-motrices de l'activité visuelle chez le bébé prématuré

Defense date:

Jan. 1, 1995

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Institution:

Paris 5

Disciplines:

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Abstract EN:

Cette etude suggere que les relations oeuil-tete observables chez le bebe premature peuvent etre a l'origine de la coordination future. L'objectif general de cette etude est de decrire l'activite visuocephalique du bebe premature, ne a 32 semaines, et examine a 37 semaines, dans deux types d'activites visuelles : la poursuite et la detection d'une cible. Les bebes sont observes dans deux conditions experimentales "tete fixe" et "tete libre". Les resultats indiquent que le bebe premature, examine en position semi-verticalisee, est capable de poursuivre un mobile. L'amplitude de cette poursuite couvre entre 20 et 25e de deplacement de la cible. De meme la capacite de detection peripherique apparait non negligeable pour des cibles localisees jusqu'au moins 30). Le fonctionnement oculomoteur presente un aspect essentiellement saccadique. La comparaison des deux conditions experimentales "tete fixe" et "tete libre" montre que les bebes presentent une meilleure performance en condition "tete fixe" que dans la condition "tete libre". Dans cette derniere condition, deux formes de reponses apparaissent : une reponse oculaire et une reponse qui associe aux mouvements des yeux une rotation cephalique de meme direction. Les poursuites ou detections "oculocephaliques s'effectuent a partir d'une localisation oculaire suivie d'une acceleration du mouvement cephalique.

Abstract FR:

It is suggested that the association of visual and cephalic systems may predict the eye-head coordination. No research has explored preterm's visuo-cephalic activity. The focus of this study was preterm's visuo-cephalic activity in two tasks : a pursuit and a peripheral detection task. 51 preterms infants, born at 32 weeks, were observed at 37 weeks in a semi vertical position. Four groups of preterms were observed either in one or both conditions : "head fixed" and "head free". Results show that preterm can follow a target moving horizontally at eye level and at a 30 cm distance. The pursuit covers 20 to 25 of the target's total course. Evenmore peripheral detection is observed when the target appears within a 30 angle. Eye displacements were predominantly saccadic in both tasks. Comparison of visual activity between conditions show that preterms perform better in "head fixed" than in "head free" condition. In the latter, two forms of pursuit are observed : a response of ocular pursuit and a response of ocular pursuit accompagnied by a cephalic movement oriented in the same direction. This "ocular-cephalic" pattern of response is characterized by an ocular localization followed by an accelerated cephalic movement.