title: State profile in low-risk pre-term infants: a longitudinal study of 7 infants from 32-36 weeks of postmenstrual age.
abstract: Spontaneous motor behaviour was longitudinally studied in 7 low-risk preterm infants. The object of this study was to determine whether or not certain recognizable behavioural states exist between 32 and 36 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA), in order to have a well defined recognizable pattern of behaviour during which the preterm infant can be clinically examined. The criteria used to define a behavioural state were: eyes open/closed; crying present/absent; gross body movements present/absent; and respiration regular/irregular. A total of 35 videotapes were made (total time, 99 hours and 25 minutes). For analyzing the data, one second and three-minute windows were used. Our data provide convincing evidence that spontaneous behaviour of preterm infants of 32-36 weeks of PMA can be classified into behavioural states. The variables gross body movements and respiration, are not independent ones. The observed states can be used as a defined clinical condition during which the preterm infants can be clinically examined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Neurology, University Hospital Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Vles
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: van Oostenbrugge
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Hasaart
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Caberg
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kingma
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Casaer
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Blanco
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001519:Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D003448:Crying; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000523:psychology*; D009068:Movement; D012016:Reference Values; D012119:Respiration