Development of infant measurement techniques
About this project
The advancement of science and technology plays a crucial role in understanding the principles of infant development. We are utilizing new measurement techniques and research methods, based on cutting-edge technologies, to investigate the origins of musicality and language.
(This project is supported by SEED research, associated with the Center for Developmental Childcare Practice and Policy Studies at the Graduate School of Education at the University of Tokyo, as well as by a JSPS Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research [20K14253]).
Development of movement measurement technology for infants
In case of measuring the activity of infants in daily situations (e.g., when they are being carried by their caregivers), existing activity meters (accelerometers) attached to infants may not be able to accurately measure their movements because the movement of the caregiver may be mixed in. Therefore, in collaboration with Xenoma, a University of Tokyo venture, we verified the validity of a sensor suit (E-skin coo) for infants that can quantify movement based on the suit's extension and contraction (strain sensor), and confirmed that it can measure only the infant's movement component (Fujii, Watanabe, & Taga, 2020 Infant Behav Dev). The E-skin coo can be worn like everyday clothes and is less burdensome for infants, so it is expected to be used as a wearable sensor for visualizing (quantifying) infant movement in the home and in childcare settings in the future.
Selected Publications
- Shinya, Y., Fujii, S., Oku, A., Watanabe, H., and Taga, G. (2018). Understanding development and its future by infant movement measurement technology. In K. Akita & T. Endo (Eds.), Front Runner of Developmental Nursing Practice and Policy Studies, Vol. 3, pp. 95-126, Chuohoki Publisher.
- Fujii, S., Watanabe, H., Taga, G. Wearable strain sensor suit for infants to measure limb movements under interactions with caregiver. Infant Behavior and Development, 58, 101418, 2020.
- Shinya, Y., Fujii, S., Watanabe, H., & Taga, G. (2017). Development and future prospects of a sensor suit for infants. Presentation at the Center for Developmental Childcare Practice and Policy Studies Public Symposium: Enriching the Beginning of Life: Innovations in Infant Development and Childcare Research, University of Tokyo (August 6, Tokyo, Japan).
Investigation of infants' acoustic play behavior and its physiological mechanisms using body-movement auralization technology
Technology that makes physical movements audible is called “sonification”, and has been attracting attention in recent years as a technology that enables musical performances (e.g. air drumming) and new musical experiences without the use of musical instruments. By applying such technology, we are investigating how infants interact with their environment and attempting to clarify the process of spontaneous actions and vocalizations becoming voluntary "sound play" and the physiological basis of such interactions. For example, by attaching air drum sensors (Freedrum) to the limbs of infants, we have developed a system that provides immediate feedback of instrumental sounds in response to limb movements and notates the time series data of the sounds played (Oku et al., 2020 BCCCD). Furthermore, it is becoming clear that such a system promotes infants' awareness of the accompanying relationship between sound and limb, anticipatory control of the cardiovascular system, and increases exploratory behaviors (e.g., sound play) (Shinya et al., 2022 Exp Brain Res).
Selected Publications
- Shinya, Y., Oku, K., Watanabe, H., Taga, G., & Fujii, S. (2022). Anticipatory regulation of cardiovascular system on the emergence of auditory-motor interaction in young infants. Experimental Brain Research, 240(6), 1661–1671.
- Oku, K, Shinya, Y., Watanabe, H., Taga, G., & Fujii, S. (2020). Change of Limb Movements in Response to Auditory Feedback with Virtual Drum-Kit Device in Three-Months-Old Infants. Budapest CEU conference on cognitive development. (9-11th, January, Budapest, Hungary)
- Shinya, Y., Oku, K., Watanabe, H., Taga, G., & Fujii, S. (2020). Heartbeat of infant drummer: Allostatic regulation of cardiovascular system in auditory-motor integration at three-month-old. XXII Biennial International Conference on Infant Studies. (6-9th, July,virtual)
