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The Association Between Heart Rate Variability and Neurocognitive and Socio-Emotional Development in Nepalese Infants
Torvald F Ask1,2, Suman Ranjitkar3, Manjeswori Ulak3
1Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience and Centre for Neural Computation, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
Insights
Vagally mediated heart rate variability (vmHRV) in Nepalese infants did not correlate with developmental outcomes measured by the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (Bayley-III). This suggests vmHRV may not be a reliable indicator for general infant development.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric neurodevelopment
- Infant physiology
- Developmental psychology
Background:
- Many children in developing nations fall short of their developmental potential.
- Traditional developmental assessments are time-intensive.
- Physiological measures like vagally mediated heart rate variability (vmHRV) are explored as potential predictors of developmental outcomes in high-risk infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize vmHRV in Nepalese infants.
- To investigate the relationship between vmHRV and neurodevelopmental outcomes assessed by the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, 3rd edition (Bayley-III).
Main Methods:
- The study included 600 Nepalese infants.
- Neurodevelopment and socio-emotional outcomes were assessed using the Bayley-III at 6-11 and 17-24 months.
- Inter-beat intervals for vmHRV were recorded at 17-24 months.
Main Results:
- High intraclass correlation was observed between HRV indices from two measurement points.
- No significant associations were found between vmHRV and Bayley-III subscales at any assessment point.
Conclusions:
- This study provides the first description of vmHRV in healthy infants and its relation to Bayley-III scores.
- The findings indicate that vmHRV is not associated with general measures of development during infancy.
Background:
Many young children in developing countries do not reach their developmental potential. Traditional methods for assessing developmental outcome are time consuming, thus, physiological measures that can contribute to the prediction of developmental outcomes in high risk groups have been suggested. Vagally mediated heart rate variability (vmHRV) is considered a neurophysiological or peripheral proxy for prefrontal and executive functioning and might serve as a supplement for traditional measurements of developmental status and as a potential useful risk indicator.
Aim:
In the present study, we wanted to describe the vmHRV in Nepalese infants and relate it to the Bayley Scales of infant and toddler development, 3. edition (Bayley-III) subscales.
Methods:
600 Nepalese infants were included in the study. At 6-11 and 17-24 months, we measured neurodevelopmental and socio-emotional outcomes by the Bayley-III. Inter-beat intervals were recorded at two measurement points when the children were 17-24 months.
Results:
There was a high intraclass correlation between HRV indices generated from the two measurement points. No significant associations between vmHRV and Bayley-III sub scales were found at any time.
Conclusion:
This study is the first to describe vmHRV in healthy infants and the relationship between Bayley-III scores. Our results suggest that vmHRV is not associated with measures of general development in infancy.
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