339 Spontaneous Cortical Arousals in Healthy Term Newborn Infants during Quiet Sleep. (October 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Korotchikova, I; Stevenson, NJ; Ryan, CA; Boylan, GB
• Is Part Of: Archives of disease in childhood. Volume 97(2012)Supplement 2
• Page Start: A99
• Page End: A99
• Publication Date: 2012-10
• Subjects: Children -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Infants -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 618.920005
• DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2012-302724.0339
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-9888

Abstract

Abstract : Background and Aims: Arousal from sleep is an important survival mechanism. During sleep-EEG monitoring in healthy term infants we observed that the majority had frequent spontaneous jerky movements (SJM), resembling a Moro reflex, during quiet sleep (QS) followed by periods of marked EEG attenuation. This phenomenon was considered a spontaneous cortical arousal (SpCA). In this study we describe and quantify the observed phenomenon, and investigate factors that influence it. Methods: Video-EEG recordings of healthy term infants, aged 1 to 36 hrs, were examined for the presence of SpCAs associated with SJMs. Bursts of EEG activity associated with a SJM (BSJM ) and subsequent lower voltage periods (LVSJM ) of EEG attenuation were identified and labelled on each recording. These were compared to a similar pattern of bursts (B) and lower voltage (LV) periods of "normal" Tracé Alternant (TA) with no SJMs. An arousal index (AIQS ) was calculated as the number of SpCAs per hour of QS. Factors that influenced the AIQS were investigated. Results: Eighty-seven video-EEGs were analysed. SJMs occurred during bursts of TA and were followed by significant EEG amplitude attenuation (median amplitude of LVSJM = 7.8 µV versus LV=12.8 µV, p<0.001). The median AIQS was 23.9. A significant negative correlation was observed between the AIQS and infant's birth weight (p=0.015). A trend towards a lower AIQS was observed with increasing gestational age (p=0.06). Conclusion: SJMs followed by periods of EEG attenuation signify SpCAs in healthy term newborn infants and may represent a normal developmental phenomenon.