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Updated: Dec 13, 2025

Measuring Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System ANS Activity in Toddlers - Resting and Developmental Challenges
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Measuring Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System ANS Activity in Toddlers - Resting and Developmental Challenges

Published on: February 25, 2016

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Distribution, Stability, and Continuity of Autonomic Nervous System Responsivity at 18- and 36-Months of Age

Michelle Stephens1, Nicole Bush2, Sandra Weiss3

  • 1Department of Family Health Care Nursing, School of Nursing, 8785University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), CA, USA.

Biological Research for Nursing
|July 28, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Autonomic nervous system (ANS) measures like respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and preejection period (PEP) showed moderate stability from 18 to 36 months, but reactivity measures were unstable. Developmental changes occurred in ANS responses during this period.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric developmental neuroscience
  • Autonomic nervous system (ANS) research
  • Child psychology and development

Background:

  • Cardiac autonomic nervous system (ANS) measures, including respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and preejection period (PEP), are key indicators of children's environmental sensitivity.
  • Limited research exists on ANS measures in children under three years old.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the distributions, stability, and continuity of RSA and PEP measures in children at 18 and 36 months of age.
  • To assess ANS responses during resting, challenge, and reactivity conditions.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort study involving racially and ethnically diverse, low-income children.
  • Assessment of RSA and PEP during a developmentally challenging protocol at 18 months (N=134) and 36 months (N=102).

Main Results:

  • ANS resting and challenge measures were normally distributed at both 18 and 36 months.
  • RSA and PEP resting and challenge measures demonstrated moderate stability from 18 to 36 months.
  • RSA and PEP reactivity measures showed no significant stability, and sample means for all ANS measures changed significantly over time.

Conclusions:

  • While resting and challenge ANS measures show some stability, reactivity measures are unstable between 18 and 36 months.
  • Significant developmental changes in ANS responses occur between 18 and 36 months.
  • Individual differences in ANS responses may be influenced by early life adversity or protective factors.
Abstract

Keywords:
autonomic nervous systemcardiovascular reactivitydevelopmentearly childhoodpreejection periodrespiratory sinus arrythmiastress

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