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Light and maternal influence in the entrainment of activity circadian rhythm in infants 4–12 weeks of age

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Abstract

The influence of light and maternal activity on early infant activity rhythm were studied in 43 healthy, maternal-infant pairs. Aims included description of infant and maternal circadian rhythm of environmental light, assessing relations among of activity and light circadian rhythm parameters, and exploring the influence of light on infant activity independent of maternal activity. Three-day light and activity records were obtained using actigraphy monitors at infant ages 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Circadian rhythm timing, amplitude, 24-h fit, rhythm center, and regularity were determined using cosinor and nonparametric circadian rhythm analyses. All maternal and infant circadian parameters for light were highly correlated. When maternal activity was controlled, the partial correlations between infant activity and light rhythm timing, amplitude, 24-h fit, and rhythm center demonstrated significant relation (r = .338–.662) at infant age 12 weeks, suggesting entrainment. In contrast, when maternal light was controlled there was significant relation between maternal and infant activity rhythm (r = 0.470, 0.500, and 0.638 at 4, 8 and 12 weeks, respectively) suggesting the influence of maternal–infant interaction independent of photo entrainment of cycle timing over the first 12 weeks of life. Both light and maternal activity may offer avenues for shaping infant activity rhythm during early infancy.

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Acknowledgments

Funded by NICHD R21 HD068597-01A and P30 NR011400.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Family and Child Nursing, University of Washington, Box 357262, Seattle, WA, 98195-7262, USA

    Karen A. Thomas

  2. Department of Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Systems, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195-7266, USA

    Robert L. Burr

  3. Barnard Center for Infant Mental Health and Development, Department of Family and Child Nursing, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195-7262, USA

    Susan Spieker

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  1. Karen A. Thomas
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  2. Robert L. Burr
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  3. Susan Spieker
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Correspondence to Karen A. Thomas.

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Thomas, K.A., Burr, R.L. & Spieker, S. Light and maternal influence in the entrainment of activity circadian rhythm in infants 4–12 weeks of age. Sleep Biol. Rhythms 14, 249–255 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41105-015-0046-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41105-015-0046-2

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