Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 21, 2026
Mouse Body Temperature Measurement Using Infrared Thermometer During Passive Systemic Anaphylaxis and Food Allergy Evaluation
Published on: September 14, 2018
Long-range correlations in rectal temperature fluctuations of healthy infants during maturation
Georgette Stern1, Julia Beel, Béla Suki
1Division of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Inselspital and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. georgette.stern@insel.ch
Insights
Infant body temperature regulation shows fractal long-range correlations that mature over time. This detrended fluctuation analysis method can identify developmental stages and aid in assessing infants at risk.
Area of Science:
- Infant physiology
- Autonomic nervous system development
- Thermoregulation dynamics
Background:
- Infant thermoregulation is critical for survival, as control of breathing, heart rate, and temperature are interdependent.
- Autonomic regulation undergoes significant development in the first six months of life.
- Abnormalities in infant thermoregulation can lead to apneas and life-threatening events.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate fractal-like long-range correlations in infant rectal temperature (T(rec)) patterns.
- To assess if these correlations indicate temperature control mechanisms in maturing infants.
- To identify potential markers for developmental stages and risks.
Main Methods:
- Measured T(rec) fluctuations in infants every 4 weeks from 4 to 20 weeks of age.
- Quantified long-range correlations using the correlation exponent, alpha, via detrended fluctuation analysis.
- Investigated the effects of maturation, room temperature, and immunization on T(rec) correlation.
Main Results:
- T(rec) fluctuations exhibit fractal long-range correlations (mean alpha = 1.51), indicating deterministic temperature regulation.
- A significant increase in alpha with age (from 1.42 at 4 weeks to 1.58 at 20 weeks) reflects maturation of temperature control.
- Room temperature and immunization did not significantly affect the correlation exponent, alpha.
Conclusions:
- Quantification of long-range correlations using alpha is an observer-independent tool to distinguish infant developmental stages.
- This method reflects the maturation of the autonomic system in regulating T(rec).
- Detrended fluctuation analysis can characterize thermoregulation in infants at risk for life-threatening events.
Background:
Control of breathing, heart rate, and body temperature are interdependent in infants, where instabilities in thermoregulation can contribute to apneas or even life-threatening events. Identifying abnormalities in thermoregulation is particularly important in the first 6 months of life, where autonomic regulation undergoes critical development. Fluctuations in body temperature have been shown to be sensitive to maturational stage as well as system failure in critically ill patients. We thus aimed to investigate the existence of fractal-like long-range correlations, indicative of temperature control, in night time rectal temperature (T(rec)) patterns in maturing infants.
Methodology/Principal Findings:
We measured T(rec) fluctuations in infants every 4 weeks from 4 to 20 weeks of age and before and after immunization. Long-range correlations in the temperature series were quantified by the correlation exponent, alpha using detrended fluctuation analysis. The effects of maturation, room temperature, and immunization on the strength of correlation were investigated. We found that T(rec) fluctuations exhibit fractal long-range correlations with a mean (SD) alpha of 1.51 (0.11), indicating that T(rec) is regulated in a highly correlated and hence deterministic manner. A significant increase in alpha with age from 1.42 (0.07) at 4 weeks to 1.58 (0.04) at 20 weeks reflects a change in long-range correlation behavior with maturation towards a smoother and more deterministic temperature regulation, potentially due to the decrease in surface area to body weight ratio in the maturing infant. alpha was not associated with mean room temperature or influenced by immunization
Conclusions:
This study shows that the quantification of long-range correlations using alpha derived from detrended fluctuation analysis is an observer-independent tool which can distinguish developmental stages of night time T(rec) pattern in young infants, reflective of maturation of the autonomic system. Detrended fluctuation analysis may prove useful for characterizing thermoregulation in premature and other infants at risk for life-threatening events.
Related Concept Videos
01:14Temperature Measurement Sites
Oral: When assessing oral temperature, the thermometer tip should be placed under the tongue in the posterior sublingual pocket. It offers accurate readings and can be...
01:27Assessing Body Temperature - Rectal
Follow these steps for rectal temperature assessment:
Step 1: Perform hand hygiene and don clean gloves to prevent cross-infection.
Step 2: Position the patient in a side-lying position to better visualize the rectal...
01:19Assessing Body Temperature - Temporal Artery
Step 1: Perform hand hygiene and don a fresh pair of gloves to prevent cross-infection and ensure patient safety.
Step 2: Explain the procedure to the patient to establish trust. Clear communication establishes trust with the patient, ensures they understand what to expect, promotes cooperation, and enhances comfort during the procedure.
Step 3: Assess the patient's forehead...
01:14Assessing Body Temperature - Tympanic membrane
Step 1: Begin by practicing good hand hygiene to prevent the transmission of microorganisms.
Step 2: Turn on the thermometer and wait until the ready sign appears on the screen to ensure accurate measurement.
Step 3: Slide the probe cover in place to prevent cross-contamination.
Step 4: Instruct the patient to tilt their head to the side for comfort and check for cerumen...
01:14Assessing Body Temperature - Axilla
Step 1: Perform hand hygiene and put on clean gloves to maintain infection control and prevent cross-contamination.
Step 2: Prepare the patient by explaining the procedure to ensure understanding and cooperation. Ensure privacy, expose the axilla, and inform the patient that minimal movement is crucial for an accurate reading.
Step 3: Adjust the patient’s clothing to expose only the axilla. It minimizes...
01:14Assessing Body Temperature - Oral
Step 1:
Start by practicing proper hand hygiene to prevent the spread of microorganisms.
Step 2:
Take the thermometer out of the charging unit, switch it on, and wait for the ready sign.
Step 3:
Gently slide the probe cover until a click is heard. This simple action prevents cross-contamination and ensures the correct placement of the probe cover.
Step 4:
Instruct the patient to open their mouth and place...