Myowa-Yamakoshi Lab, Graduate School of Education, Kyoto University

Humans perceive the physical world by integrating various sensory inputs and information about our own motor system, such as forming visual images even from only touching an object. The ability to flexibly integrate information from the various senses （sight, sound, touch, etc.）and then transmit this into motor output is said to be deeply related to the human-unique intelligence, such as the ability to understand the mental state of others and the ability to use symbols, such as languages. 　We are comparing the development of sensorimotor systems of humans and chimpanzees, from the fetal to infant stages. Four-dimensional（4-D）ultrasound imaging, cardiotachometry, and video cameras are used to investigate their behavioral responses to visual and audio stimuli.

The Kyoto University Hospital NICU（Masahiko Kawai, medical director）admits many newborn babies including those with extremely low birth weight in the range of 400g and those with severe health problems, and works diligently every day to provide care for them. The NICU has achieved an amazing survival rate of more than 95% for very-low-birth-weight infants.
All of the medical facility staff also hope that the infants being treated at the NICU are provided the most appropriate mental care. What sort of social environment is most appropriate for the mental development of premature infants? In the field of newborn infant medical care, 'developmental care' is growing in popularity.