Validation of the auditory response cradle with sound and tactile stimuli

The usefulness of the auditory response cradle as a device to test perception of neonates was extended to include tactile as well as sound stimuli. Newborns received three types of trials: white noise, von Frey hair (heavy and light) or no stimulus (control) presentations. The motor and respiration response probabilities were calculated for each type of trial. There was roughly equivalent responding for auditory and tactile stimuli whilst the control response rate was significantly lower. The heavy von Frey hair was more likely to evoke a response than the light one. These results were taken as evidence that the auditory response cradle can be used to test neonatal perception in more than one modality.