title: A VEP study in sleeping and awake one-month-old infants and its relation with social behavior.
abstract: With the present study we aimed to analyze the relationship between infants' behavior and their visual evoked-potential (VEPs) response. Specifically, we want to verify differences regarding the VEP response in sleeping and awake infants and if an association between VEP components, in both groups, with neurobehavioral outcome could be identified. To do so, thirty-two full-term and healthy infants, approximately 1-month of age, were assessed through a VEP unpatterned flashlight stimuli paradigm, offered in two different intensities, and were assessed using a neurobehavioral scale. However, only 18 infants have both assessments, and therefore, these is the total included in both analysis. Infants displayed a mature neurobehavioral outcome, expected for their age. We observed that P2 and N3 components were present in both sleeping and awake infants. Differences between intensities were found regarding the P2 amplitude, but only in awake infants. Regression analysis showed that N3 amplitude predicted an adequate social interactive and internal regulatory behavior in infants who were awake during the stimuli presentation. Taking into account that social orientation and regulatory behaviors are fundamental keys for social-like behavior in 1-month-old infants, this study provides an important approach for assessing physiological biomarkers (VEPs) and its relation with social behavior, very early in postnatal development. Moreover, we evidence the importance of the infant's state when studying differences regarding visual threshold processing and its association with behavioral outcome.
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychophysiology Laboratory, CIPsi School of Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal. Electronic address: saracruz@psi.uminho.pt.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychophysiology Laboratory, CIPsi School of Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Crego
authors.affiliation: CIPsi School of Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Eugénia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychophysiology Laboratory, CIPsi School of Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; Department of Counseling and Applied Educational Psychology, Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA; Spaulding Center of Neuromodulation, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Óscar
authors.initials: Ó
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychophysiology Laboratory, CIPsi School of Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sampaio
mesh_terms: D004569:Electroencephalography; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018730:Infant Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D011930:Reaction Time; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D012919:Social Behavior; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Development; Infancy; NBAS; Neurobehavioral assessment; State; VEPs