title: Light and maternal influence in the entrainment of activity circadian rhythm in infants 4-12 weeks of age.
abstract: The influence of light and maternal activity on early infant activity rhythm were studied in 43 healthy, maternal-infant pairs. Aims included description of infant and maternal circadian rhythm of environmental light, assessing relations among of activity and light circadian rhythm parameters, and exploring the influence of light on infant activity independent of maternal activity. Three-day light and activity records were obtained using actigraphy monitors at infant ages 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Circadian rhythm timing, amplitude, 24-hour fit, rhythm center, and regularity were determined using cosinor and nonparametric circadian rhythm analyses (NPCRA). All maternal and infant circadian parameters for light were highly correlated. When maternal activity was controlled, the partial correlations between infant activity and light rhythm timing, amplitude, 24-hour fit, and rhythm center demonstrated significant relation (r = .338 to .662) at infant age 12 weeks, suggesting entrainment. In contrast, when maternal light was controlled there was significant relation between maternal and infant activity rhythm (r = 0.470, 0.500, and 0.638 at 4, 8 and 12 weeks, respectively) suggesting the influence of maternal-infant interaction independent of photo entrainment of cycle timing over the first 12 weeks of life. Both light and maternal activity may offer avenues for shaping infant activity rhythm during early infancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Child Nursing University of Washington Seattle, WA 98195-7262.
authors.forename: Karen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: Department of Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Systems University of Washington Seattle, WA 98195-7266.
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Burr
authors.affiliation: Barnard Center for Infant Mental Health & Development Department of Family and Child Nursing University of Washington Seattle, WA 98195-7262.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spieker
keywords: Circadian rhythm; instrumentation and methodology; pediatrics; sleep hygiene and environment