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Am J Perinatol 1986; 3(4): 319-324
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-999888
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

© 1986 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.

Effects of Vestibular Stimulation on Sleep States in Premature Infants

Leandro Cordero, David L. Clark, Louis Schott
  • Departments of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Anatomy, The Ohio State University, College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio
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Publication Date:
04 March 2008 (online)

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ABSTRACT

Seventeen appropriate-for-gestational-age premature infants (birthweights 1000-1530 gm) were randomly assigned to control (7) and vestibular stimulation (10) groups. Those in the treatment group were exposed daily to three 15-minute sessions of sinusoidal vestibular stimulation over a 2-week period. At the end of that period, postconceptional age ranged from 34 to 37 weeks.

As a measure of neurologic maturation, behavioral and physiologic parameters characterizing sleep states were recorded at the onset and termination of the 2-week period.

The ratio of active-to-quiet sleep did not change significantly in control patients. Those exposed to vestibular stimulation showed a significant decrease in proportion of active and a concommitant increase in the proportion of quiet sleep. These results may indicate that vestibular stimulation, even at this early postconceptional age, results in a more mature sleep pattern.