Which of the following is NOT a component of the Synactive Theory?

• A. Autonomic/physiologic
• B. Motor Behavior
• C. Behavioral State
• D. Respiratory Rate

Answer: (D)

Newborn behavior, under this theory, is organized through five interacting subsystems: autonomic/physiologic, motor behavior, behavioral state, attentional/interactive, and self-regulation. Each subsystem can show signs of stability or stress, and together they reflect how the infant manages arousal and regulation.

Respiratory rate, while an important physiologic sign, is not a separate subsystem. It belongs to the autonomic/physiologic component and contributes to how this subsystem is functioning, but it isn’t one of the five distinct components itself. In practice, you assess autonomic signs like respiration, heart rate, color, and effort as part of that subsystem, alongside motor patterns, state organization, attention/interaction, and self-regulation.