The research by Thelen in which infants were partially immersed in a tank of water demonstrated _____ to be responsible for the disappearance of the stepping reflex.
A) changing ratio of weight to strength
B) cortical maturation
C) visual maturation
D) motivation

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Thelen's research showed that the disappearance of the stepping reflex in infants is due to the changing ratio of leg weight to muscle strength, not due to neurological maturation. When the buoyancy of water supported their legs, even infants who had apparently lost the stepping reflex could perform stepping movements, indicating that the reflex didn't disappear but was inhibited by their inability to lift their increasingly heavy legs.

The Research by Thelen in Which Infants Were Partially Immersed