Abstract

The present work offers a review of experimental and observation-based research on manual reaching in infancy done in the last few decades (with a special emphasis on the last 10-15 years) conducted in three different theoretical perspectives: cognitive, functional (or ecological) and dynamic. Five main themes are taken into account: a) the existence of goal-directed reaching movements in the newborn; b) the development of manual coordination; c) the organization and control of arm movements; d) hand preference and specialization; e) the relation between reaching and communication. A rich and detailed picture of hand-arm coordination competencies in the first eighteen months of life emerges at the end.