Education<\/b><\/h3>\n
PhD, Developmental Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
MS, Developmental Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
BA, Psychology, University of Oregon, Eugene<\/p>\n
Research Interests<\/b><\/h3>\n
Cognitive development; Infant motor development;\u00a0Postural stability in newly sitting and standing infants<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t Dr. Claxton investigates 1) the factors that impact how infants and young children learn to balance (such as learning to sit, stand and walk) and 2) identifies the mechanisms through which balance abilities lead to developmental changes in other developmental domains (such as cognitive and language abilities). For example, when infants first start to stand and walk, they are very unstable and fall a lot. This instability is often attributed to factors such as poor balance abilities, weak muscles, and an underdeveloped brain. However, Dr. Claxton’s research has demonstrated that if you give infants a toy to hold onto, they are able to stand three times longer and demonstrate more advanced control over their balance. These findings challenge traditional views of postural development and improvements in stability, which focus on more maturational and physiological explanations and demonstrate that infants are more advanced in their balance control than previously thought.<\/p>\n Current projects include exploring fall behavior in infants, and how object-interactions impact infant gait and posture.\u00a0Dr. Claxton is also a member of an interdisciplinary research team funded by a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency which is investigating how transitioning from crawling to walking can affect children’s health. Dr. Claxton’s lab is also a data collection site for the PLAY project, a nationwide, interdisciplinary, NIH funded project, whose goal is to develop a data set from across the country documenting the behaviors of infants and mothers during natural activity in their homes. The data from all of the sites will be combined (over 900+ infants and mothers) for collaborative analysis to a variety of research questions.<\/p>\n\t Liddy JJ, Zelaznik HN, Huber JE, Rietdyk S, Claxton LJ<\/strong>, Samuel A, & Haddad JM (2016). The efficacy of Microsoft Kinect(TM) to assess human bimanual coordination<\/a>. Behavioral Research Methods<\/em>, pp:1-18<\/p>\n O’Brien KM, Zhang J, Walley PR, Rhoads JF, Haddad JM, &\u00a0Claxton LJ<\/b>\u00a0 (2015).\u00a0 A model to investigate the mechanisms underlying the emergence and development of independent sitting. Developmental Science, <\/i>18:622-634.<\/p>\n Carlson SM,\u00a0Claxton LJ<\/b>, & Moses LJ (2015). The relation between executive function and theory of mind is more than skin deep.\u00a0Journal of Cognition and Development, <\/i>16:186-197.\u00a0<\/p>\n Melzer DK &\u00a0Claxton LJ<\/b>\u00a0(2014). Do actions speak louder than knowledge? Action manipulation, parental discourse, and children’s mental state understanding in pretense. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology<\/i>, 128:21-36. \u00a0<\/p>\n Claxton LJ<\/b>, Strasser JM, Leung EJ, Ryu JH, & O’Brien KM\u00a0(2014). Sitting infants alter the magnitude and structure of postural sway when performing a manual goal-directed task. Developmental Psychobiology<\/i>, 56:1416-1422. \u00a0<\/p>\n Claxton LJ<\/b>, Haddad JM, Ponto K, Ryu JH, & Newcomer S (2013). Newly standing infants\u00a0increase postural stability when performing a supra-postural task. PLoS ONE<\/i> 8(8):e71288. doi:10.1371\/journal.pone.0071288.<\/p>\n Haddad JM,\u00a0Claxton LJ,<\/b>\u00a0Melzer DK, Hamill J, & Van Emmerik R (2013). Developmental changes in postural stability during the performance of a precision manual task. Journal of Motor Learning and Development<\/i>, 1:12-19.<\/p>\n Haddad JM, Rietdyk S,\u00a0Claxton LJ,<\/b>\u00a0& Huber JE (2013). Task dependent postural control throughout the lifespan. Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews<\/i>, 41:123-132.<\/p>\n Claxton LJ<\/b>\u00a0& Ponto K (2013). Understanding the properties of interactive televised characters. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology<\/i>, 34:57-62.<\/p>\n Claxton LJ,<\/b>\u00a0Melzer DK, Ryu JH, & Haddad JM (2012). The control of posture in newly standing infants is task dependent. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology<\/i>, 113:159-165.<\/p>\n Haddad JM, Rietdyk S, &\u00a0Claxton LJ<\/b>\u00a0(2012). Exercise training to improve independence and quality of life in impaired individuals: A commentary on Li and Hondzinski’s “Reversal of movement dysfunction due to peripheral neuropathy with exercise modalities”. Exercise and Sports Science Reviews<\/i>, 40:117.<\/p>\n Haddad JM, Claxton LJ,<\/b>\u00a0Keen R, Berthier N, Riccio GE, Hamill J, & Van Emmerik R (2012). Development of the coordination between posture and manual control. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology<\/i>, 111:286-298.<\/p>\n Claxton LJ<\/b>\u00a0(2011). An investigation of preschoolers’ misattributions of the properties of two-dimensional images: Understanding the relationship between a symbol and its referent. Infant and Child Development<\/i>, 20:301-312.<\/p>\n Claxton LJ,<\/b>\u00a0McCarty ME, & Keen R (2009). Self-directed action affects planning in tool-use tasks with toddlers. Infant Behavior and Development<\/i>, 32:230-233.<\/p>\n Carlson SM, Moses LJ, &\u00a0Claxton LJ\u00a0<\/b>(2004). Individual differences in executive functioning and theory of mind: An investigation of inhibitory control and planning. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology<\/i>, 87:299-319.<\/p>\n Claxton LJ,\u00a0<\/b>Keen R, & McCarty ME (2003). Evidence of motor planning in infant reaching behavior. Psychological Science<\/i>, 14:354-356.<\/p>\n\t\t\tSelected Presentations<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t Arnold AJ, Collignon A, Gaona P, Sheets R, Smith S, &\u00a0Claxton LJ<\/b>\u00a0(2015).Evidence of object prioritization in infancy<\/i>. Talk given at the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity Conference, Portland, OR.<\/p>\n Arnold AJ, Collignon A, Gaona P, Sheets R, Smith S, &\u00a0Claxton LJ<\/b>\u00a0(2015).\u00a0The impact of holding a toy on arm guard position in newly standing infants.<\/i>\u00a0Talk given at the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity Conference, Portland, OR.<\/p>\n Arnold AJ, Harris RC, Liddy JJ, &\u00a0Claxton LJ<\/b>\u00a0(2015).\u00a0Postural sway of sitting infants on solid and foam surfaces while engaged in concurrent tasks.<\/i>\u00a0Poster presented at the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity Conference, Portland, OR.<\/p>\n Liddy JJ, Haddad JM, Huber JE,\u00a0Claxton LJ<\/b>, Rietdyk S, & Zelaznik H (2015). Assessing bimanual coordination with the Microsoft Kinect.\u00a0<\/i>Talk given at the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity Conference, Portland, OR.<\/p>\n Harris RC, Liddy JJ, &\u00a0Claxton LJ<\/b>\u00a0(2014).\u00a0Validation of the Wii Balance Board as a Device to Assess Postural Sway in Sitting Infants<\/i>. Poster presented at the Society for Research in Child Development, Special Topics Meeting: Developmental Methodology, San Diego, California.<\/p>\n Claxton LJ,\u00a0<\/b>Strasser J, Leung E, O’Brien K, and Ryu JH (2013). Changes in the Postural Dynamics of Sitting Infants as They Perform a Concurrent Task. Talk given at the annual meeting of the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity, New Orleans, Louisiana.<\/p>\n Claxton LJ,\u00a0<\/b>Strasser J, Leung E, Ryu JH, & O’Brien K (2013). Sitting Infants Increase Stability When Engaged in a Supra-postural Task. Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Seattle, Washington.<\/p>\n Claxton LJ,\u00a0<\/b>Leung E, Strasser J, O’Brien K, & Ryu JH (2013). Sitting Infants Reduce Sway Velocity in Response to Visual Task-Demands. Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Seattle, Washington.<\/p>\n Claxton LJ,\u00a0<\/b>Strasser J, Leung E, & Carlson SM (2012). Individual Differences in the Development of Executive Functioning and Motor Control in Preschool-aged Children. Talk given at the annual meeting of the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity, Honolulu, Hawaii.<\/p>\n Claxton LJ,<\/b>\u00a0Strasser J, Leung E, & Ryu JH (2012). Newly Standing Infants Adapt Postural Sway When Engaging in a Visually-demanding Supra-postural Task. Talk given at the annual meeting of the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity, Honolulu, Hawaii.<\/p>\n O’Brien K, Rhoads J, Haddad JM, &\u00a0Claxton LJ<\/b>\u00a0(2012). A Mathematical Model to Explore the Mechanisms Underlying the Development of Independent Sitting in Infants. Talk given at the annual meeting of the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity, Honolulu, Hawaii.<\/p>\n\t Amanda Arnold<\/strong> (PhD – 2019)<\/p>\n Dr. Laura Claxton Associate\u00a0ProfessorDepartment of Health and Kinesiology Contact Education PhD, Developmental Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst MS, Developmental Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst BA, Psychology, University of Oregon, Eugene Research Interests Cognitive development; Infant motor development;\u00a0Postural stability in newly sitting and standing infants CV Google scholar profile Research Gate Research description Dr. Claxton investigates […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":15,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-builder.php","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-212","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","5":"entry","6":"override"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/hhs\/hk\/Biomechanics-MotorBehavior\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/212","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/hhs\/hk\/Biomechanics-MotorBehavior\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/hhs\/hk\/Biomechanics-MotorBehavior\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/hhs\/hk\/Biomechanics-MotorBehavior\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/hhs\/hk\/Biomechanics-MotorBehavior\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=212"}],"version-history":[{"count":24,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/hhs\/hk\/Biomechanics-MotorBehavior\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/212\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1586,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/hhs\/hk\/Biomechanics-MotorBehavior\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/212\/revisions\/1586"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/hhs\/hk\/Biomechanics-MotorBehavior\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/hhs\/hk\/Biomechanics-MotorBehavior\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=212"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Dr.](\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/hhs\/hk\/Biomechanics-MotorBehavior\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/claxton_laura.jpg\" "\\"claxton_laura\\"")
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCV\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGoogle scholar profile\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tResearch Gate\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\tResearch description<\/h2>\n
Current research projects<\/b><\/h3>\n
\n
Current Students<\/h3>\nPaige Thompson<\/strong><\/a> (Health and Kinesiology)
\nExpected Degree: PhD\n\n\tPast Students<\/h3>\n
\n