Head Orientation Position during Birth and in Infant Neonatal Period, and Hand Preference at Nineteen Weeks

Abstract

This study of lateral preferences of normal full-term infants found, as predicted, that infants who were delivered from a left occiput anterior or transverse birth position (head turned to the right) exhibited a neonatal right supine head orientation and a right-hand preference in visually guided reaching tasks at 19 weeks. Contrary to prediction, infants delivered from a right occiput anterior or transverse birth position (head turned to the left) did not exhibit a left-sided preference in either neonatal head position or hand preference. Results are discussed in relation to other research which found a right shift in neonates' head orientations and in the distribution of hand preference in the human population. The findings suggest further investigation into the relationship between prenatal and postnatal postural asymmetries and the continuing development of laterality.