The Ebb and Flow of Patterns 🌊

When neonates are held upright allowing the feet to touch the ground, they show a response that is similar to the gait pattern of infants when they first learn to walk at around 12 months. 

This response is generally seen as a reflex, because at about 2 months after birth it dissipates again and returns only when stepping appears later. 

Some researches, who would not quite believe that this response vanishes put this to the test. They immersed babies up to the waist in water and - who would have guessed - the stepping reappeared! 

The water made the feet lighter again, so that the ratio between the weight of upper and lower body resembled that of the neonates.

The counter test was done with neonates that were still showing the response by adding a weight to their legs. This stopped the response immediately.

Both assessments showed that the pattern is not forgotten at all. It is only suspended for the time when the ratio of upper and lower body parts is out of proportion.

The persistence of a pattern is not dependent on its existence in isolation, but rather on the underlying formative conditions that give rise to it. In other words, it is not the pattern itself that disappears, but rather the circumstances that shape and sustain it.

So what to take from this? 

Habits can be sticky, and it’s very hard to change them from within. - Even more when everything surrounding us and the consequences of our behavior stay in place. But if we can change the circumstances from which the pattern emerges, we have a much greater lever that we can tweak and use to change our habits.

Exploration Nugget: 

Take a few steps and notice how you are walking. 

• Which foot moves with which arm?

• Where do you look towards?

• Do you twist in your torso? Your spine? How do you do it?

Then, take a few steps again, but this time, only step with your heels.

• What changes in your upper body?

• How differently do you have to organize your shoulders and gaze so you can stay balanced?

This exploration is a nice example of how you can change the circumstances to change your patterns. 

You can also take it further:

• How would you walk differently if you would run your hand along a wall or railing?

• How would it be if someone offered you both of their hands for support? 

What was your impression of this little investigation? Let me know in the comments!

Best, Caroline

If you want to explore more, be sure to check out my Study Group:

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Resources:

Thelen, E., & Fisher, D. M. (1982). Newborn stepping: An explanation for a" disappearing" reflex. Developmental psychology, 18(5), 760.

Thelen, E., Fisher, D. M., & Ridley-Johnson, R. (1984). The relationship between physical growth and a newborn reflex. Infant behavior and development, 7(4), 479-493.