NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale profiles predict developmental outcomes in a low-risk sample

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Latent profile analysis (LPA) previously classified neurobehavioral responses in infants with prenatal drug exposure.
• The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale (NNNS) is a tool for assessing infant neurobehavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define NNNS profile response patterns in low-risk infants without known prenatal exposures.
• To determine if these defined profiles predict neurobehavioral outcomes in early childhood.

Main Methods:

• NNNS exams were administered to 355 low-risk infants around 5 weeks postpartum.
• LPA was employed to establish distinct neurobehavioral profiles using standard NNNS summary scales.
• Associations between identified infant profiles and neurobehavioral outcomes at 1-3 years were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Three distinct NNNS profiles emerged: social/easy going (44%), hypotonic (24%), and high arousal/difficult (32%).
• Significant associations were observed between NNNS profiles and later psychomotor development and externalizing behaviors.
• Hypotonic infants exhibited lower psychomotor development and externalizing scores compared to other profiles.

Conclusions:

• LPA successfully identified three distinct NNNS summary score profiles in infants lacking known prenatal cocaine exposure.
• These neurobehavioral profile patterns correlated with early childhood outcomes, mirroring findings in cocaine-exposed infants.
• The study highlights the utility of LPA for profiling neurobehavioral development in both exposed and unexposed infant populations.