title: Cross-correlation of fetal cardiac and somatic activity as an indicator of antenatal neural development.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we wanted to model the emergence of coupling between fetal cardiac and somatic activity in normal and at-risk fetuses.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred six fetuses of uncomplicated pregnancies were longitudinally monitored at 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, and 38 weeks of gestation by using a fetal actocardiograph and computerized data collection. Twenty-six fetuses of complicated pregnancies were also included. Statistical time series analysis techniques were used to examine the relation between fetal movement and fetal heart rate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A linear increase was found in the magnitude of the cross-correlation function between fetal movement and fetal heart rate as gestation advanced, with coalescence around a peak lag of 5 seconds by 32 weeks. Fetuses that delivered before term evidenced accelerated fetal movement and fetal heart rate coupling, whereas fetuses affected by deleterious conditions showed a decline in developmental trajectory.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The cross-correlation between fetal cardiac and somatic activity is an indicator of neuroregulation in human fetuses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Population and Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. jdipietr@jhsph.edu
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Dipietro
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Irizarry
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hawkins
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Costigan
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Pressman
mesh_terms: D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D005324:Fetal Movement; D005865:Gestational Age; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D009420:Nervous System / Q000196:embryology*