snowdeal.org > ex machina: the eric update - day 390: odin's new found ability to move objects at a distance!

ex machina

the eric update - day 390: odin's new found ability to move objects at a distance!

in addition to creating and retaining complex spatial memory maps of his environment and mastering his oral/motor skills, odin continues to show evidence of that his little neurons are doing their neuronal development thing and giving him the ability to accomplish what was previously unimaginable; just this week he discovered that he could push the buttons on his developmental mobile that's attached to his changing table right next to his BIg Boy Bed and remotely turn it on and off!

of course, we now know when he's awaken from a slumber because we can hear the musical mobile sounds starting and stoppping via his baby monitor, which he thinks it's all sorts of fun.

maybe i'm just giving away my background in cognitive neuroscience but it seems to me that this opportunity to learn that one can control things from a distance so early is quite a new phenomenon. i mean, before the advent of remote controls it was impossible unless you possessed some sort of psychokinetic ability. someone, somewhere surely must have a ph.d dissertation in the works on the effects of the learning action at a distance on a developing brain.

in any case, you can see several of his other favorite playthings that he likes to have around when he wakes up; his bedside clock, and a stuffed toy malamute that's been by his side since the nicu and, of course, the gloworm.

bookmark: del.icio.us ::digg it ::furl ::reddit ::yahoo ::

7/29/2005 08:57:00 PM 4 comments

4 Comments:

I'm not sure a child differentiates between cause and effect close up and cause and effect at a distance. From a very young age, babies learn that they can cause things to happen from a distance. For example, a parent can be induced to come to a baby from a distance in response to crying.

A child is not aware of the presence or absence of technological issues, while an adult is. What might seem technologically amazing to an adult (controlling something across the room with a remote control) may be indistinguishable from non-technological ways of getting things done from a distance to a child.

By Anonymous, at 9:17 PM

I think Odin could be a step away from genius (If he's not already there). I can't beleive how many leaps and bounds and hurdles that little fellow had to over come in just one short year...I love reading the blog everyday and can't wait to hear the next thing Odin does!!!

By Anonymous, at 9:42 PM

anonymous: " I'm not sure a child differentiates between cause and effect close up and cause and effect at a distance. From a very young age, babies learn that they can cause things to happen from a distance. For example, a parent can be induced to come to a baby from a distance in response to crying...What might seem technologically amazing to an adult (controlling something across the room with a remote control) may be indistinguishable from non-technological ways of getting things done from a distance to a child."

o.k. smarty smart anonymous commentor. interesting theory. i think more study is warranted :-) not that i'm taking the issue too seriously, but it would be interesting to know whether or not an infant can distinguish between the animate entities that are amenable to "remote control" by non-technological means ( crying or what not ) and the inanimate objects that are not. i think any proper study should include The Clapper to help discern the underlying machinations.

By e3, at 9:46 PM

kacy: "I think Odin could be a step away from genius (If he's not already there). I can't beleive how many leaps and bounds and hurdles that little fellow had to over come in just one short year...I love reading the blog everyday and can't wait to hear the next thing Odin does!!!"

well, we certainly think he's a genius ! thanks for taking the time to leave such a nice comment.

By e3, at 9:29 AM

Post a Comment

[ rhetoric ]

“"it is hard to be brave," said piglet, sniffing slightly, "when you're only a Very Small Animal." rabbit, who had begun to write very busily, looked up and said: "it is because you are a very small animal that you will be Useful in the adventure before us."”

the complete tales & poems of winnie the pooh

[ about ]

this site chronicles the continuing adventures of my son, odin, who was unexpectedly born on the fourth of july at 25 weeks gestation, weighing 1 pound 7 ounces.

he's quite a fighter and you can always send him a postcard to the most current address listed here if you're inspired by his adventures. see the postcard project/google maps mashup to see a map of the postcards.

if you're new, you can browse the archives to catch up. and don't forget to watch a few movies that i made while we were in the neonatal intensive care unit. or if you want the abridged version and you can find a copy, you can read about his adventures in the november 2005 issue of parents magazine.

[ search ]

[ outbound ]