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Neonatal Skin-to-Skin Contact: Implications for Learning and Autonomic Nervous System Function in Infants With

Tondi M Harrison1, Chao-Ying Chen2, Phyllis Stein3

  • 11 The Ohio State University College of Nursing, Columbus, OH, USA.

Biological Research for Nursing
|February 7, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Neonatal skin-to-skin contact (SSC) improved learning and autonomic function in infants with complex congenital heart disease (CCHD). Infants with CCHD not receiving SSC showed reduced capacity for cognitive tasks, highlighting SSC

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Developmental Neuroscience
  • Autonomic Nervous System Function

Background:

  • Infants with complex congenital heart disease (CCHD) frequently experience neurodevelopmental challenges.
  • Cognitive development is linked to vagally mediated autonomic function.
  • Skin-to-skin contact (SSC) is known to enhance neurodevelopment and autonomic function in other high-risk infant populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of a neonatal SSC intervention on learning and autonomic function in 3-month-old infants.
  • Comparison groups included infants with CCHD who received SSC, typically developing (TD) infants, and infants with CCHD without SSC.

Main Methods:

  • Cognitive function was assessed using the mobile paradigm (MP), a measure of learning via operant conditioning.
  • Autonomic function was evaluated through heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) measurements.
  • Data were analyzed using repeated-measures general linear mixed modeling with an exploratory alpha of 0.10.

Main Results:

  • Learning rates were 75% for TD infants, 70% for infants with CCHD receiving SSC, and 40% for infants with CCHD not receiving SSC.
  • Infants who learned showed significant HRV reductions during the MP, while non-learners did not.
  • TD and SSC groups exhibited increased HR and decreased HRV during the MP, unlike the control group.

Conclusions:

  • Neonatal SSC appears to enhance cognitive and autonomic development in infants with CCHD.
  • Infants with CCHD without SSC demonstrated a diminished ability to mobilize physiological resources for cognitive tasks.
  • Findings support the implementation of SSC for infants with CCHD and warrant further research.
Abstract

Keywords:
autonomic nervous systemcongenital heart diseaseheart rate variabilityneurodevelopmentskin-to-skin contact

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