This study will examine the development of the EEG sleep rhythm in the """"""""healthy low birthweight neonate (<1500 grams) from birth through the expected date of delivery. Maturational similarities and differences in neurophysiological development will be assessed between preterm infants of increasing gestational ages up to term, compared to a control group of infants whose birthweights are appropriate-for-gestational-age. EEG sleep state will be analyzed in terms of its interaction with rapid eye movements (REMs), motility, and arousal to assess ultradian (less than 24-hour) cyclicity in the developing brain of the neonate. These signals will be evaluated visually and with computer assistance. Three specific hypotheses will be examined: 1) EEG sleep organization in healthy preterm neonates will follow a predictable maturational pattern as they reach their full-term age; 2) EEG sleep state, motility, and arousal of premature neonates corrected to full-term age will differ from normal full-term infants with respect to an altered sleep cycle, increased number and types of body movements, and increased duration of arousals; 3) Maturational relationships between the ultradian sleep rhythm of the neonate and other ultradian rhythms of REM, arousal, and motility are established by a corrected term age, and can be expressed by computer analysis in terms of spectral power, coalescence, and periodicity. These mathematical models reflect the degree of neurophysiological organization of the central nervous system at birth. The establishment of normative EEG-sleep data for the """"""""healthy"""""""" premature neonate as he/she matures to term is essential before accurate comparisons can be made with sick premature neonates who are at risk for neurologic sequelae. Mathematical algorithms of neonatal sleep organization (i.e. spectral power, coalescence, and periodicity) from the present study of healthy premature neonates can be compared with premature neonates at high-risk. The study will be carried out using monitoring systems already in place. These systems include both paper and synchronized video- EEG monitoring, and portable computer equipment for data reduction and analysis. This will be done without disruption of the patient's in-patient medical care. A Neonatal Follow-Up Clinic is already in operation to assist in the neurodevelopmental assessment of the study patients through age five, as specified by the study design.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS026793-05
Application #
3412829
Study Section
Neurology A Study Section (NEUA)
Project Start
1988-12-01
Project End
1993-11-30
Budget Start
1992-12-01
Budget End
1993-11-30
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
1993
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Magee-Women's Hospital of Upmc
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Pittsburgh
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
15213
Kaffashi, F; Scher, M S; Ludington-Hoe, S M et al. (2013) An analysis of the kangaroo care intervention using neonatal EEG complexity: a preliminary study. Clin Neurophysiol 124:238-46
Scher, Mark S; Johnson, Mark W; Ludington, Susan M et al. (2011) Physiologic brain dysmaturity in late preterm infants. Pediatr Res 70:524-8
Scher, Mark S (2011) Ontogeny of EEG sleep from neonatal through infancy periods. Handb Clin Neurol 98:111-29
Scher, Mark S; Ludington-Hoe, Susan; Kaffashi, Farhad et al. (2009) Neurophysiologic assessment of brain maturation after an 8-week trial of skin-to-skin contact on preterm infants. Clin Neurophysiol 120:1812-8
Scher, Mark S (2008) Ontogeny of EEG-sleep from neonatal through infancy periods. Sleep Med 9:615-36
Scher, Mark S; Turnbull, John; Loparo, Kenneth et al. (2005) Automated state analyses: proposed applications to neonatal neurointensive care. J Clin Neurophysiol 22:256-70
Scher, Mark S; Johnson, Mark W; Holditch-Davis, Diane (2005) Cyclicity of neonatal sleep behaviors at 25 to 30 weeks' postconceptional age. Pediatr Res 57:879-82
Scher, Mark S (2004) Automated EEG-sleep analyses and neonatal neurointensive care. Sleep Med 5:533-40
Scher, Mark S; Steppe, Doris A; Salerno, Dawn G et al. (2003) Temperature differences during sleep between fullterm and preterm neonates at matched post-conceptional ages. Clin Neurophysiol 114:17-22
Scher, Mark S; Alvin, John; Gaus, Lisa et al. (2003) Uncoupling of EEG-clinical neonatal seizures after antiepileptic drug use. Pediatr Neurol 28:277-80

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