Moving what is seen: arm visibility modulates infants' manual preference.

Effect of arm visibility on immediate manual preference was evaluated in 5-month-old infants on the task of reaching for a toy. Manual preference was assessed under full vision, and then in consecutive intervals in which vision of the preferred arm was occluded. Results showed that preferred arm visual occlusion led to reduced frequency of its use, with weakened persistence of that effect in the ensuing reestablishment of full vision. These results reveal that visual contact with the arms modulates their selection to perform reaching movements.