Neonatal Sleep Predicts Attention Orienting and Distractibility. (February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Geva, Ronny; Yaron, Hagit; Kuint, Jacob
• Is Part Of: Journal of attention disorders. Volume 20:Number 2(2016:Feb.)
• Page Start: 138
• Page End: 150
• Publication Date: 2016-02
• Subjects: infant -- prematurity -- attention -- sleep; Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder -- Periodicals; Attention -- Periodicals; 616.8589
• DOI: 10.1177/1087054713491493
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1087-0547

Abstract

Objective: Children with sleep disorders tend to experience attention problems, yet little is known about the relationship between sleep and attention in early development. This prospective follow-up study investigated the longitudinal relationships between neonatal sleep, attention, and distraction in infants born preterm.Method: We used actigraphy and sleep-wake diaries in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU, N = 65), attention orienting in a visual-recognition-memory task (VRM) at age 4 months, and structured observation of attention and distractibility at age 18 months.Results: Infants with poorer neonatal sleep ( n = 31) exhibited longer first gaze durations in the VRM at 4 months and longer distraction episodes at 18 months relative to neonatal controls who slept well ( p < .01). Hierarchical regression models support relations between neonatal sleep and gaze behavior at 4 months and distractibility at 18 months; moreover, alterations in orienting attention at 4 months predicted the likelihood of being distracted during the second year of life.Conclusion: Findings underscore the importance of early sleep-wake and attention regulation in the development of distraction in infants born preterm.