Tiny Hands

Many of us are familiar with this charming image of a fetus in utero sucking its thumb. What most people don't realize is that the fetus is already developing a more extensive relationship with its hands, touching its surroundings and its own body. New imaging technology has allowed doctors to catch glimpses of a variety of tactile movements during regular prenatal exams and scientists have been able to schedule more frequent exam rhythms to learn even more about fetal activity. Heidelise Als, Ph. D. studies developmental psychology at Harvard Medical School. She describes fetal tactile stimulation this way: "It touches a hand to the face, one hand to the other hand, clasps its feet, touches its foot to its leg, its hand to its umbilical cord." I am wondering, what early incarnation of the hand/brain connection these movements represent?