Rapid eye movement (REM) in premature neonates and developmental outcome at 6 months

Hadar Arditi-Babchuk, Ruth Feldman, Arthur I. Eidelman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

39 Scopus citations

Abstract

Different aspects of early sleep organization have been associated with subsequent development in premature infants. The aim of the present study was to assess the relations between rapid eye movement (REM) activity in premature neonates and infants' developmental outcomes at 6 months. Participants were 81 premature infants (47 males). Sleep-wake states and REM were observed across 4 consecutive evening hours (7-11PM) in 10-s frames when infants were between 32 and 36 weeks post-menstrual age. Developmental outcome was assessed at 6 months with the mental development index (MDI) of the Bayley II. Infants with low-REM activity spent more time in less growth-promoting states, including crying and unfocused alert states in the neonatal period and had lower MDI scores at 6 months corrected age compared to infants with high-REM. Differences between the high- and low-REM groups were independent of neonatal medical risk. Low-REM activity may serve as an indicator of developmental risk among premature neonates.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)27-32
Number of pages6
JournalInfant Behavior and Development
Volume32
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2009

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This study was supported by the March of Dimes Foundation (#12-FY04-50) and the Irving B. Harris Foundation.

Funding

This study was supported by the March of Dimes Foundation (#12-FY04-50) and the Irving B. Harris Foundation.

FundersFunder number
Irving B. Harris Foundation
March of Dimes Foundation12-FY04-50

    Keywords

    • Cognitive development
    • Premature infants
    • REM
    • Sleep
    • State

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