Effects of Gahvora Cradling on Learning, Motor Behavior, and Expression of Affect in 3-Month-Olds in Tajikistan

Background/Objectives: We examined spontaneous movement in 26 3-month-olds in Tajikistan, all reared in a “gahvora” cradle from birth for most of each day. The gahvora swaddles and binds infants’ limbs and torso, restricting movement. Methods: Infants participated in a conjugate reinforcement mobile paradigm immediately after release from the gahvora or after several minutes of unrestricted activity. Infants completed the task at home across five 3 min blocks: baseline, three acquisition blocks, and extinction. Coders scored tethered and untethered leg kicks from video in every block and also scored facial expressions and vocalizations to track affect. Mothers reported typical gahvora use. Results: All infants learned: kicks of the tethered leg exceeded kicks of the untethered leg, and kicking remained elevated at extinction relative to baseline. Learning rates diverged most between infants tested immediately after release from the gahvora and infants who had several minutes of unrestricted activity beforehand. Conclusions: A within-culture comparison of infants’ exposure to body and limb restriction reveals how cultural childrearing practices shape opportunities for perceptual–motor development.