Organized but incomplete reaching movements before functional reaching has developed. First identified by Colwyn Trevarthen and subsequently subjected to motion analysis by Claes von Hofsten they consist of arm movements toward an object with an open hand, which bring the hand in the vicinity of the object, but it does not contact it. Only seen in the newborn under appropriate conditions when in the right ‘alert’ state and seated in a semi-upright position.
See Alert wakefulness, Functional reaching, Grasp response, Newborn imitation, Newborn swimming, Ontogenetic adaptation, Palmar grasp, Pincer grasp (or grip), Prehension, Reaching