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PubMed1985

Abnormal behavior and low developmental test scores in iron-deficient anemic infants.

The relationship between abnormal behavior and poor developmental test performance was analyzed in 68 6- to 24-month-old Guatemalan babies with and without mild iron deficiency anemia. Regardless of age, the 10 anemic infants with abnormal affective responses during developmental testing had very low mental scores (mean = 65.7 +/- 5.2 SEM), while the 18 with normal affect had mental scores (mean = 97.1 +/- 4.5 SEM) which were normal by U.S. standards and comparable to the nonanemic group's scores. Five anemic infants with pervasive behavioral disturbance, who showed abnormal orientation to tasks in addition to disturbed affect, did poorly on the motor test (mean = 59.8 +/- 6.2 SEM). Those anemic infants who were normal in task orientation achieved motor scores similar to those of the nonanemic control group. The observed behavioral disturbances are consistent with biochemical evidence concerning the role of iron in the metabolism of central nervous system neurotransmitters which influence affect and arousal. These results suggest that poor mental developmental test performance in infants with iron deficiency anemia may be mediated by disturbances in affective behavior.

Affect↗
PubMed2000

Neurobehavioral functioning of healthy preterm infants of varying gestational ages.

Little information is available regarding the behavioral repertoire of healthy, yet prematurely born, infants. To address this problem, the Assessment of Preterm Infants' Behavior (APIB) was used 10 to 14 days after birth in a cross-sectional comparison of 42 healthy newborn infants: 16 full-term infants (gestational age at birth [GA] = 40 weeks), 13 close to full-term infants (GA = 37 weeks), and 13 preterm infants (GA = 34 weeks). Groups differed on four background variables that were used as covariates in subsequent analyses. Significant group differences were found on 12 of 29 outcome variables, including measures of autonomic, motor, state, attention/interaction, and self-regulatory systems, as well as a measure of overall behavioral organization. Pairwise comparison showed that preterm and full-term infants differed on all 12 variables whereas preterm and close to full-term infants differed on 11 of the 12 variables. Furthermore, full-term and close to full-term infants differed on 4 of the 12 variables, including measures of the autonomic, motor, and state systems. Full-term and close to full-term infants were behaviorally more similar to one another than either group was to the preterm infants, yet there were important differences even between full-term and close to full-term infants.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗
PubMed2003

Occurrence of oxygen desaturation events during preterm infant bottle feeding near discharge.

AIMS: The purpose of this study was to examine the occurrence, severity, pattern, and moderators of oxygen desaturation during preterm infant bottle feeding near the time of discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) when fed by mothers. STUDY DESIGN: Twenty-two very low birthweight (VLBW) infants [birthweight 1155+/-293 g, gestational age (GA) 28.1+/-2.0, postconceptional age (PCA) 36.5+/-1.6 weeks] were videotaped being bottle-fed by their mothers. Most infants (86%) were discharged within 6 days of the study. Oxygen saturation was continuously monitored and infant feeding behaviors were coded. Oxygen desaturation events (SpO(2)<90%) were identified and analyzed. RESULTS: Infants averaged 10.8 events during feeding (range 1-28, S.D. 8.9) and spent, on average, 20% of their feeding time (range 0-70%, S.D. 17.98%) with oxygen levels below 90%. One hundred forty of the desaturation events (59%) were classified as mild (SpO(2) 85-89), 47 events (20%) were classified as moderate (SpO(2) 81-84), and 51 events (21%) were classified as severe (SpO(2)</=80). Events were evenly distributed across infants' feeding time. Receiving supplemental oxygen, beginning the feeding with a higher baseline SpO(2), and being of older PCA predicted lower percentage of feeding time with SpO(2) below 90% (R(2)=0.57). Receiving supplemental oxygen and beginning the feeding with a higher baseline SpO(2) predicted less number of desaturation events during the feeding (R(2)=0.44). Despite similar baseline SpO(2) levels, infants who were on supplemental oxygen had 50% less oxygen desaturation events and spent 33% less time with SpO(2) less than 90%. CONCLUSION: VLBW infants continue to have desaturation events during feeding when fed by their mothers near the time of discharge. Further research is needed to understand the effect of hypoxemia on the preterm infant's development of oral feeding skills, to study the effects of supplemental oxygen during feeding, and to further develop interventions to minimize desaturation during feeding.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

The influence of birth setting on the father's behavior toward his partner and infant.

As part of a controlled, clinical trial conducted to compare medical and psychological outcomes of a birth room and a conventional hospital setting, we examined the behavior of fathers toward their partners and infants. One hundred fourteen couples were systematically assigned to either locale by strict alternation. They learned about this allocation on arrival at the hospital in labor. Observations of fathers' behavior were made at midlabor and during home visits at three months and one year. During labor, fathers assigned to the conventional setting were more involved in helping and encouraging their partners. Parenting behavior was not influenced by the birth setting. Unexpectedly, fathers were more involved with their infants when the mothers had expressed less satisfaction with childbirth. Compensation behavior may explain these results, which can be seen as appropriately adaptive in the face of perceived environmental deficiencies affecting the laboring woman and the infant.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Infants of depressed mothers show "depressed" behavior even with nondepressed adults.

To determine whether the "depressed" behavior (e.g., less positive affect and lower activity level) of infants noted during interactions with their "depressed" mothers generalizes to their interactions with nondepressed adults, 74 3-6-month-old infants of "depressed" and nondepressed mothers were videotaped in face-to-face interactions with their mothers and with nondepressed female strangers. "Depressed" mothers and their infants received lower ratings on all behaviors than nondepressed mothers and infants. Although the infants of "depressed" versus nondepressed mothers also received lower ratings with the stranger adult, very few differences were noted between those infants' ratings when interacting with their mother versus the stranger, suggesting that their "depressed" style of interacting is not specific to their interactions with depressed mothers but generalizes to their interactions with nondepressed adults as early as 3 months of age.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

A comparison of thresholds for 1/3-octave filtered clicks and noise bursts in infants and adults.

Behavioral thresholds of 6-month-old infants and adults were determined for 1/3-octave filtered clicks and 300-msec noise bursts with center frequencies ranging from .5 to 8 kHz. For noise bursts, differences between infant and adult thresholds were largest at low frequencies and smallest at 8 kHz. For clicks, infants' thresholds were most like adults' at 4 kHz, and age differences increased at both lower and higher frequencies. Differences between click and noise thresholds were significantly larger for infants than for adults at .5, 1, and 8 kHz, but not at 2 and 4 kHz. These results suggest that improvements in threshold for long-duration stimuli during infancy may not be accompanied by comparable changes in threshold at short durations. The delayed development of sensitivity to low- and high-frequency clicks appears consistent with maturational trends recently described for the auditory brainstem response.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed2004

Maternal regulation of infant reactivity from 2 to 6 months.

Previous research has investigated the effect of maternal soothing behaviors on reducing infant reactivity but not the differential effects of specific maternal behaviors on infant stress responses. The present study investigated maternal regulation of 2- and 6-month-olds' responses to an inoculation and found a significant decline with age in both the intensity and duration of infants' crying. Maternal affection and touching decreased from 2 to 6 months, whereas maternal vocalizing and distraction behaviors increased. At both ages, the combination of maternal holding/rocking and vocalizing was associated with decreases in all levels of infant reactivity. Neither strategy alone, however, was found to be effective. Feeding/ pacifying behaviors were effective only when initial distress was at a low or moderate level, which suggests that the effectiveness of maternal regulatory behaviors may depend on the intensity of infants' crying.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Behaviorally functional opioid systems in infant rats: I. Evidence for olfactory and gustatory classical conditioning.

In order to characterize behavioral function of opioid systems in neonatal rats, two series of experiments were initiated. In one, the reinforcing properties of exogenous opioids were investigated in 5-day-old pups. Specifically, the infant's ability to associate the novel taste of saccharin, received while suckling, with ip morphine injections was assessed. Rats that received 0.5 ml of saccharin prior to morphine administration ingested considerably more saccharin on Day 10 than did control rats. The second set of experiments was conducted to determine whether rat pups could associate a novel odor with morphine administration. Five days after conditioning, that stimulus was highly preferred by morphine-treated pups compared with saline control pups. Thus positive associations were formed with either a novel taste stimulus experienced while suckling or with an odor experienced during social isolation. Conditioning was cue specific and was retained for at least 5 days. The formation of these associations was blocked with opioid antagonists given prior to conditioning. These data suggest behaviorally functional opioid receptors and raise the possibility of a functional role of the endogenous opioids in motivational processes in infant rats.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Infant vocalization, adult aggression, and fear behavior of an oxytocin null mutant mouse.

Previous studies have shown that oxytocin (OT)-deficient female mice produced by homologous recombination fail to lactate but exhibit normal parturition and reproductive behaviors. We examined the ultrasonic vocalizations of infant mice and the subsequent aggressive and fear behavior of adult male OT knockout (OT-KO) mice. Infant OT-KO mice were less vocal than wild-type (WT) control mice during separations from the mother and peers. Adult OT-KO males were generally more aggressive in isolation-induced and resident-intruder tests of aggression and less fearful in the plus maze and acoustic startle reflex tests than WT controls. Although the increase in tests of aggression was robust for OT-KO males from obligate litters (progeny of homozygous x homozygous crossings), the increase in aggression was reduced during tests for OT-KO males derived from nonobligate mating (progeny of heterozygous x heterozygous crossings), suggesting that the OT-KO genotype was not, by itself, responsible for the changes in adult behavior. We conclude that the absence of exposure to OT during development was associated with abnormalities in the development of emotional behavior.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2005

[The importance of early traumatic experiences for the development of the infant's brain].

Learning and social and emotional experiences have an impact on gene activity, and modify the growth and function of nerve cells. As a result, and depending on the interactive experiences within relationships, motoric, cognitive and emotional skills, as well as behavior of the infant are influenced. If the child fails to experience a dependable relationship, the symptoms of mental disturbance often develop (e.g. ADHD, among others). Further factors that impact on brain development and lead to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are deprivation, physical violence and sexual abuse in early childhood.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

[Effects of cycled lighting on body weight, physiological variables and behavioral states in low birth weight infants].

PURPOSE: This study was aimed at finding the effects of cycled lighting on body weight, physiological variables and the behavioral state of LBWI (low birth weight infants) in the NICU. METHOD: The subjects were 20 LBWI at 2 NICUs. They were assigned to an experimental or control group which consisted of 10 subjects in each. Cycled light was applied to the experimental group for 10 days. RESULT: It was certified that the application of cycled lighting resulted in increased body weight and O(2) saturation, and decreased heart rate of the LBWI. However, there was no effect in decrease of respiration and stabilization of the behavioral state. CONCLUSION: The application of cycled lighting might be a nursing intervention which would in turn have positive effects on the growth of LBWI.

Circadian Rhythm↗
PubMed1992

Maternal influences on infant hand-use during play with toys.

Infant hand-use preferences are related to mother's, but not father's, handedness. Since infants match mother's hand-use during toy play, maternal handedness can affect infant hand-use. Twenty-eight mother-infant pairs (14 left-handed and 14 right-handed infants but all right-handed mothers) were videotaped while playing with six toys on the infant's 7-, 9-, and 11-month birthdays. Play was analyzed for five kinds of hand-use biasing situations, but maternal hand-use was the dominant influence. Infant matching of maternal hand-use increased with age and right-handed infants and female infants matched maternal hand-use more frequently. Concordance of hand-use preference between mother and infant seemed to account for both the matching and the stronger preferences of the right-handed compared to the left-handed infants.

Female↗
PubMed2000

The organized categories of infant, child, and adult attachment: flexible vs. inflexible attention under attachment-related stress.

From an evolutionary perspective, a central mechanism promoting infant survival is the maintenance of proximity to attachment figures. Consequently attachment figure(s) represent the infant's primary solution to experiences of fear. Aspects of the development of the field of attachment are outlined within this context, beginning with Bowlby's ethological/evolutionary theory, and proceeding to Ainsworth's early descriptions of infant-mother interaction in Uganda and Baltimore. Using a laboratory procedure called the strange situation, Ainsworth identified three organized patterns of infant response to separation from and reunion with the parent. Narratives derived from videotaped strange situation behavior of infants in each category (secure, avoidant, and resistant/ambivalent) are provided, together with a discussion of the prototypical sequelae of each category (e.g., school behavior, and separation-related narratives and drawings at age six). The Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) and the move to the level of representation are also described. AAI transcripts are presently analyzed according to the speaker's capacity to adhere to Grice's maxims of rational cooperative discourse, and three organized AAI categories, or states of mind with respect to attachment, have been identified (secure-autonomous, dismissing, and preoccupied). When the interview is administered to parents who have been seen with their infants in the strange situation, each AAI category has repeatedly been found to predict that infant's strange situation response to that parent. Illustrations of the discourse characteristic of each category are provided, and it is noted that individuals with apparently unfavorable life histories are found to have secure offspring, providing that their history is recounted coherently. Like infant strange situation behavior, differences in adult security as identified through discourse patterning are interpreted in terms of attentional flexibility or inflexibility under attachment-related stress.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Task constraints and infant grip configurations.

The prehensile grip configurations of infants aged 4 through 8 months were examined as they grasped objects that varied in size and shape. The findings revealed that infants as young as 4 months systematically differentiate grip configurations as a function of the object properties in essentially the same way that 8-month-old infants do. However, the younger 4-month-old infants predominantly used the haptic system in addition to the visual system for information pick-up regarding object properties, whereas 8-month-old infants predominantly used information from the visual system alone to differentiate grip configurations according to the object properties. Infants apparently perceive the same action-relevant information through different emphases of the sensory modes to drive the action system with a similar grip configuration for a given object. It is proposed that the traditional description of an orderly sequence to the development of infant prehension (e.g., Halverson, 1931) is too conservative and inflexible to capture the functionally adaptive prehensile behavior of infants to changing task constraints.

Exploratory Behavior↗
PubMed1990

Influence of maternal proximity on behavioral and physiological responses to separation in infant rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta).

The effects of maternal proximity on the behavioral and physiological responses of infant rhesus macaques during 4 days of total or adjacent separations from the mother were studied. The 6 infants tested showed behavioral responses that differentiated the two separation conditions. Major differences were found in the quantity and quality of vocalizations, the occurrence of cage-biting and cage-shaking behavior, object exploration, and hunched and freezing postures. In particular, the structure of coo vocalizations clearly discriminated between the presence or the absence of the mother during separation. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of dopamine and serotonin metabolites did not discriminate between the two separation conditions but showed a transient elevation at 24 hr after separation and were not different from baseline by 96 hr after separation. In contrast, both the plasma cortisol and the CSF norepinephrine metabolite responses tended to be greater and to persist for a longer period of time when infants were totally isolated. The results are discussed within the context of attachment and coping theories.

Animals↗