Publisher's Synopsis
This special issue reviews a Japanese government project on "Mother-Infant Interaction", which was carried out from 1977 to 1989. It covers foetal and neonatal medicine, development psychology, foetal and infant behaviour, nursery and education science. The papers presented are based on evaluation obtained by new technologies, such as real-time ultrasonography which permits a noninvasive and indirect monitoring of foetal behaviour. The text discusses the social and scientific impact of behavioural studies on the foetus, the neonate, the family and society, followed by speculative discussions on the mechanisms of behavioural development.
