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[Density of rapid eye movements during active sleep in preterm newborn infants]
Insights
REM density, a measure of eye movement activity during REM sleep, is consistent in newborns and similar to adults. This index was higher in preterm infants aged 36-37 weeks and during the first REM sleep period.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal sleep research
- Neurophysiology
- Developmental pediatrics
Context:
- Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is crucial for brain development.
- REM density is a validated marker for phasic eye movement activity in adults.
- Understanding REM sleep patterns in preterm infants is essential for assessing neurological development.
Purpose:
- To evaluate REM density as an index of phasic eye movement activity in newborns.
- To compare REM density in preterm infants across different conceptional ages (CA).
- To determine if REM density in newborns resembles adult levels.
Summary:
- REM density was assessed in 28 newborns (34-39 weeks CA) using polysomnography.
- Two methods of calculating REM density showed consistent results, with higher values in the 36-37 weeks CA group and during the first REM sleep period.
- REM density in preterm newborns was found to be comparable to adult levels.
Impact:
- REM density is a reliable indicator of REM sleep activity in preterm infants.
- Findings suggest REM density is a stable feature in neonatal sleep, even with age-related decreases in total REM sleep duration.
- This research provides normative data for REM density in newborns, aiding in the assessment of sleep and neurological development.
Abstract:
Rapid eye movement (REM) density has been helpful as a reliable index of phasic eye movements activity during REM (active) sleep in adults. We evaluated this index in 28 newborns, at 34 to 39 weeks of conceptional age (CA). The 5 hours polysomnographic recording during sleep included electroencephalogram, electrooculogram, electrocardiogram, pneumogram, nasal thermistor for detecting airflow, and continuous oxygen saturation (tcPO2) monitoring. REM density was measured by two distinct criteria: REM density as the duration of phasic eye movements in relation to REM periods (REMP). Such index varied from 10.6 to 14.1% and was higher in the 36-37 weeks CA group. REM density was calculated as a percentage of 10-second epochs of REM sleep in which phasic eye movements occurred. This criterion confirmed the narrow range of such index in this age bracket (39.9-44.6%), was higher in the first REMP and in the 36-37 weeks CA group. Our data suggest that REM density is a consistent phasic REM sleep feature in preterm newborns with levels close to the adult population, in spite of the gradual decrease of REM sleep duration with age. Higher indices were also found in the first REMP and in the 36-37 weeks CA group by both methods.