Haptic perception and the psychosocial functioning of preterm, low birth weight infants

The shape of disposable diaper affects spontaneous movements of lower limbs in young infants

This study examined the characteristics of young infants' lower limb spontaneous movements based on differences in shape of diapers. Twenty-seven healthy infants (103 ± 16.3 days old) were enrolled in this study. We measured the spontaneous movements of their lower limbs in four conditions (Naked, wearing Normal type diapers, wearing Type A diapers, and wearing Type B diapers). The Normal diaper has a wider waist belt than the Type A diaper, and the Type B diaper has a narrower crotch area than the Type A diaper. We observed them in seven indices (the velocity of lower limb movements, the trajectory area of knee movement in the sagittal plane and the frontal plane, the distance between both knees and between side of abdomen and knee, and correlation of velocities between side of abdomen and knee and between left and right ankles). The results showed that the velocity of the lower limb movements in the Naked condition was higher than when wearing Normal diapers. The value for the trajectory area of knee movement in sagittal plane, which reflects the range of lower leg lifting movements and closeness of such movements to the trunk, for the Type B diaper condition was higher than that for the Normal diaper condition. This result indicates that the shape of the diaper affects the spontaneous movements of the lower limbs of young infants.

Influence of Additional Ankle Weights on Kinematic Variables of Late Preterm Infants Aged 3-4 Months

The authors analyzed and compared the effect of additional weight on the spatiotemporal parameters of the kicking movement of late preterm and full-term infants. The experiment was divided into 4 conditions: training, baseline, weight, and postweight. In the W condition, a weight of one third the lower limb mass was added to the infant's ankle. During the baseline and postweight conditions, the ankle weight was removed. Late preterm infants do not differ from full-term infants in relation to spatiotemporal variables at 3 and 4 months. However, during the weight condition, the straightness index and the hip-ankle and knee-ankle correlations decreased in the preterm infants at both ages. In contrast, the straightness index increased in the postweight condition compared to the baseline values at both ages.

Frequency of Maternal Touch Predicts Resting Activity and Connectivity of the Developing Social Brain

Previous behavioral research points to a positive relationship between maternal touch and early social development. Here, we explored the brain correlates of this relationship. The frequency of maternal touch was recorded for 43 five-year-old children during a 10 min standardized play session. Additionally, all children completed a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging session. Investigating the default mode network revealed a positive relation between the frequency of maternal touch and activity in the right posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS) extending into the temporo-parietal junction. Using this effect as a seed in a functional connectivity analysis identified a network including extended bilateral regions along the temporal lobe, bilateral frontal cortex, and left insula. Compared with children with low maternal touch, children with high maternal touch showed additional connectivity with the right dorso-medial prefrontal cortex. Together these results support the notion that childhood tactile experiences shape the developing "social brain" with a particular emphasis on a network involved in mentalizing.

Mutual touch during mother-infant face-to-face still-face interactions: influences of interaction period and infant birth status

Contact behaviours such as touch, have been shown to be influential channels of nonverbal communication between mothers and infants. While existing research has examined the communicative roles of maternal or infant touch in isolation, mutual touch, whereby touching behaviours occur simultaneously between mothers and their infants, has yet to be examined. The present study was designed to investigate mutual touch during face-to-face interactions between mothers and their 5½-month-old fullterm (n=40), very low birth weight/preterm (VLBW/preterm; n=40) infants, and infants at psychosocial risk (n=41). Objectives were to examine: (1) how the quantitative and qualitative aspects of touch employed by mothers and their infants varied across the normal periods of the still-face (SF) procedure, and (2) how these were associated with risk status. Mutual touch was systematically coded using the mother-infant touch scale. Interactions were found to largely consist of mutual touch and one-sided touch plus movement, highlighting that active touching is pervasive during mother-infant interactions. Consistent with the literature, while the SF period did not negatively affect the amount of mutual touch engaged in for mothers and their fullterm infants and mothers and their infants at psychosocial risk, it did for mothers and their VLBW/preterm infants. Together, results illuminate how both mothers and infants participate in shaping and co-regulating their interactions through the use of touch and underscore the contribution of examining the influence of birth status on mutual touch.

Influência do peso adicional nos chutes de lactentes pré-termo e de termo

INTRODUÇÃO: O objetivo do estudo foi analisar e comparar padrões de chutes com e sem peso adicional em lactentes pré-termo e de termo aos 3 e 4 meses de idade. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Foram filmados 26 lactentes aos 3 e 4 meses de idade, divididos em Grupo Experimental, 12 lactentes pré-termo sem idade corrigida; e Grupo Controle, 14 lactentes de termo. O experimento foi subdividido em quatro condições, a saber: 1) Treinamento (T): o pesquisador tocava os pés dos lactentes no painel, elevando-o; 2) Linha de Base (LB): movimentos livres de chutes, podendo o lactente elevar ou não o painel com os pés; 3) Peso (P): acréscimo de tornozeleira pesando 1/3 da massa do membro inferior; 4) Pós-Peso (PP): idêntica à LB. RESULTADOS: Na variável frequência de chutes, constatou-se diferença entre as idades [F(5,72) = 5,620; p = 0,0035] e entre as condições LB-P (p = 0,023) e P-PP (p < 0,001). Na variável frequência de contato, obteve-se diferença entre as condições LB-P (p = 0,002) e P-PP (p < 0,001). Na variável sucesso ao elevar o painel, constatou-se diferença entre os grupos (x²(1) = 4,341; p = 0,0013) e as condições LB-P (p = 0,003), LB-PP (p = 0,002) e P-PP (p = 0,002) aos 3 meses de idade. Na variável duração de chute, constatou-se diferença entre as condições LB-P (p = 0,023) e P-PP (p = 0,010). CONCLUSÃO Os chutes de lactentes pré-termo se diferenciam dos termos dependendo das características intrínsecas e extrínsecas.

Kognitive Entwicklung und sozial-emotionale Kompetenzen bei Frühgeborenen mit unterschiedlichen Bindungsrepräsentationen

Zusammenfassung. Es wurde geprüft, ob sich frühgeborene und termingeborene Kinder im Vorschulalter in ihrer kognitiven Entwicklung und ihren sozial-emotionalen Kompetenzen unterscheiden. Insgesamt wurden 29 Kinder im Alter zwischen fünf und sechs Jahren im Hinblick auf die Faktoren “Geburtszeitpunkt” (Frühgeborene < 2000 g vs. Termingeborene > 2600 g) und “Bindungsqualität” (sicher vs. unsicher gebunden) untersucht. Die Bindungsqualität wurde auf der Repräsentationsebene durch das Geschichtenergänzungsverfahren zur Bindung (GEV-B) erfasst. Die kognitive Leistung und sozial-emotionale Entwicklung wurde mit dem Entwicklungstest ET 6-6 sowie die emotionale Kompetenz durch den Untertest “Fotoalbum” des WET und die sozial-emotionalen Kompetenzen durch einen Erzieherbeobachtungsbogen erhoben. Frühgeborene erzielten signifikant niedrigere Werte in den Dimensionen der kognitiven Entwicklung des ET 6-6 als termingeborene Kinder. Außerdem bewerteten Erzieher das Sozialverhalten der Frühgeborenen tendenziell als weniger kompetent verglichen mit dem Verhalten der Termingeborenen. Im Untertest “Fotoalbum” des WET konnten unsicher gebundene Kinder im Vergleich zu sicher gebundenen Kindern emotionale Gesichtsausdrücke tendenziell schlechter erkennen. Diese Ergebnisse sprechen dafür, dass sich der Faktor “Frühgeburt” insbesondere auf die kognitive Leistung auswirkt.

Origins of tactile vulnerability in high-risk infants

PURPOSE

This study examined the degree to which birthweight, gestational age, fetal drug exposure, hazardous postnatal medical events, and a mother's predisposition toward touch predicted the likelihood of an infant's tactile vulnerability during nursing care.

SUBJECTS

The convenience sample included 99 hospitalized infants in their second week of life and their mothers.

DESIGN

The design was correlational.

METHODS

A standardized observational assessment was used to code the infant's physiological and behavioral responses to touch during 4 different episodes of nursing care. Chart review was performed to collect information regarding fetal drug exposure, birthweight, gestational age, and postnatal medical events. Mothers completed a questionnaire regarding their own comfort with using touch and being touched.

MEASURES

The Tactile Vulnerability Assessment measured infant reactivity to and tolerance for touch during nursing care. The Postnatal Complications Scale identified hazardous medical conditions and treatments experienced by the infant during the first 2 weeks of life, and the Physical Contact Assessment evaluated a mother's predisposition toward touch.

RESULTS

The number of hazardous postnatal medical events experienced by an infant was the primary predictor of tactile vulnerability, accounting for 28% of the variance in the infant's likelihood of developing hyperarousal and distress from touch during care. Illicit fetal drug exposure and maternal predisposition toward touch were also significant predictors.

CONCLUSIONS

The significant relationship of postnatal medical events to tactile vulnerability suggests that it may be associated with the presence of infant pain or injury to the infant's central nervous system. Symptoms of drug withdrawal and the impact of teratogens on arousal regulation may also be implicated in greater distress from touch by infants. In addition, findings suggest the potential for inherited transmission of a vulnerability to touch. Assessment of infant vulnerability, including discussion with parents about their views of the infant's needs regarding touch, may enhance problem identification and early intervention to reduce infant distress and further medical problems.