Correlation between neurological examination and behavioural assessment of the newborn infant

A modified Prechtl neurological examination and the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioural Assessment Scale (BNBAS) were used on days 1 and 5 in 78 healthy newborn infants. Correlations between variables in the neurological examination and the behavioural items and subscales in the BNBAS were calculated. Especially the total neurological score and optimality score were significantly correlated to motor performance (days 1 and 5) and to orienting responses to animate and inanimate stimuli (day 1) in the BNBAS. The neurological variables showed poor or no correlation to the habituation items and to certain items concerned with changes of behavioural state in the BNBAS.