Cortical activation and oxygen perfusion in preterm newborns during kangaroo mother care: A pilot study

This study aimed to assess the functional activation of preterm newborns' cerebral cortex during kangaroo mother care. Possible effects of gestational age and previous kangaroo mother care experience were also considered.

Fifteen preterm newborns were recruited (gestational age: 24-32 weeks). Cortical activation was assessed in frontal, motor and primary somatosensory cortices after 15 and 30 min of kangaroo mother care by multichannel near-infrared spectroscopy (gestational age at assessment: 30-36 weeks). Both oxy- and deoxy-haemoglobin variations were analysed by t-test. Possible effects of gestational age and previous kangaroo mother care experience on cortical activation were studied by regression analysis.

After 15 min, bilateral activations (oxy-haemoglobin increase) were observed in frontal, somatosensory and motor cortices. After 30 min, the right motor and primary somatosensory cortices were found activated. Deoxy-haemoglobin increased after 15 min, returning to baseline at 30 min. After 15 min, there was a positive effect of gestational age at the assessment on both haemoglobin concentrations and a negative effect of previous kangaroo mother care on deoxy-haemoglobin increase.

Motor and somatosensory cortices, particularly on the right side, showed significant activation during kangaroo mother care. Kangaroo mother care seems to benefit activated cortical areas by improving oxygen supply.