OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of a cognitive-motor intervention in the information integration and memory reactivation of babies. METHODS: The participants were 40 babies, aged between six to eight months, born full term, adapted to day care centers and staying there for seven hours per day. In the day care center, the ratio caregiver/baby was 1/6. The patients belong to low income' large families and they did not participate in intervention programs. A cognitive-motor intervention was provided to the Intervention Group using visual tracking, toy manipulation and postural control activities. No intervention was provided to the Control Group. The day care routine activities were maintained for both groups. Three manipulation activities were assessed in the beginning of the program, after a month (retention) and three days after retention. Statistical analysis applied the chi-square with Yates correction, Fisher exact test and Cochran test. RESULTS: The Intervention Group showed a significantly superior performance when compared to the Control Group in the retrieval of memory information, both at retention and post-retention tests. Significant and positive changes were also observed for the Intervention Group in the time factor. The older babies in the Intervention Group showed a better capacity to evocate information compared to the youngest ones. This trend was not observed for the Control Group. CONCLUSIONS: In order to nourish a baby's global development, interventions should be organized implementing tasks with diversity and appropriate learning intervals, which take into consideration the babies' capacity to maintain the information and to integrate them to new challenges
physical therapy; child development; memory
