The distribution of the amount of motility in young infants between two nursing periods.

Abstract

In a previous study of four infants (3) the author reported that young infants are more active just before than after nursing. In the present article an analysis is made of the distribution of motility in newborn infants between two consecutive nursings. SUBJECTS .

Activity and Inactivity Cycles During the Sleep of Premature Infants Exposed to Neutral Temperatures

“…In th is s tu d y , we have stressed th e fu n ctio n of te m p e ra tu re an d m inim ized h u n ger. E ckstein (11) also n o te d little re la tio n sh ip b etw een th e m o v em en t cycles of p re m a tu re in fa n ts an d h u n g e r. Hellebrugge (23) a n d Irv in (8) on th e c o n tra ry feel t h a t h u n g e r is th e d o m in ate stim u lu s to arousal and a c tiv ity in new born b ab ies. R ecen t anim al e x p erim en ts te n d to su p p o rt o u r o b serv atio n s. W elker (24) w orking w-ith n ew b o rn puppies n o te d a rela tio n sh ip b etw een te m p e ra tu re an d a c tiv ity b u t n o t b e tw een h u n g er an d a c tiv ity .…”

“…In fa n ts Exposed to N eutral T em peratures1 (4,5), full te rm n e w b o rn in fa n ts (4,6,7,8,9,10,12), a n d p re m a tu re in fan ts (4,11). C riteria for th e d e p th of sleep h av e been estab lish ed for full te rm n ew b o rn in fa n ts on th e basis o f th e o b serv atio n o f body m ove m en ts.…”

Learning in the neonate: the modification of behavior under three feeding schedules.

“…The studies of Irwin, Richards, and others (5,6,7,16,17) have suggested that bodily activity in newborns increases in a curve of positive acceleration during the three-to four-hour period between feedings. Richards (17) has concluded that neither blood-sugar levels nor gastric contractions are simple determinants of this increment of bodily activity.…”

“…Richards (17) has concluded that neither blood-sugar levels nor gastric contractions are simple determinants of this increment of bodily activity. Carlson (2), Taylor (19), and others, moreover, have shown that the average time of appearance of stomach contractions in the neonate after feeding is 2.3 to 2.7 hours-a period of time which does not necessarily correlate with pronounced increase in bodily activity (5,6,7). Is 'learning,' therefore, an additive factor in determining the course of activity between feedings?…”

Perinatal Sleep-Wake Cycles

“…E a rly a ssu m p tio n s t h a t th e n e o n a te e x h ib its alm o st co n tinuous sleep w ere co n tra d ic te d b y W a g n er [26] w ho show ed th a t in fa n ts m ay rem ain aw ak e for as m uch as 4 0 % o f th e lim ited in terv als used for o b se rv a tio n . E a rlie r o b serv atio n s b y B u h l e r a n d H etzer [3] in d ic a te d t h a t n e o n a te s te n d to sleep for s h o rt periods, th e m ax im u m d u ra tio n re cord ed in th e ir stu d ies b ein g 3.4 h. H ow ever th e w ell-know n stu d ies o f G e s e l l an d I lg [11] su g g ested t h a t th e n e o n ate ap p ears to sleep m o st o f th e tim e , aw ak en in g o n ly to feed, an o b serv atio n reinforced b y I r w in [16] w ho o b serv ed t h a t n e o n a ta l a c tiv ity is le a st a fte r n u rsin g an d g ra d u a lly increases as th e n e x t nursing period ap p ro ach es, th e g re a te s t a c tiv ity being 5 :0 0 -6 :0 0 AM a n d th e le a st aro u n d noon [15]. G e s e l l a n d A m atruda [10] observed one fu ll-term n eo n ate fo r 15 d ay s a n d concluded t h a t a v ery e a rly a c c u ltu ra tio n to th e 'le a rn e d ' d iu rn a l p a tte r n o f sleep and w akefulness developed since th is in fa n t sle p t 6 3 % o f th e tim e alth o u g h th e sleep periods w ere alm o st e q u ally d iv id ed b etw een n ig h t an d d a y ; K leitm a n and E n gelm ann [18] essen tially confirm ed these findings.…”