Fetal sleep organization: A biological precursor of self-regulation in childhood and adolescence?

Fetal sleep states emerge during the third trimester of pregnancy and involve multiple interconnected neuronal networks. We examined whether fetal sleep characteristics predict child and adolescent self-regulation in a non-clinical sample (study group, n = 25; reference group, n = 48). Combined recordings of three sleep variables (fetal heart rate, body movements and rapid eye movements) were made for 2 h at 36–38 weeks’ gestation. Fetuses showing synchronous change of sleep variables (i.e. within 3 min) at transition from quiet into active sleep reached a higher level of effortful control, both at 8–9 and 14–15 years, than fetuses not making synchronous transitions and compared with the reference group. Results are discussed from a Developmental Origins of Behavior, Health and Disease (DOBHaD) point of view. It is concluded that studying sleep ontogeny offers the possibility to gain insight into brain maturational processes and/or environmental adaptive processes that may have long term behavioral developmental consequences.

► At 36–38 weeks of gestation sleep was measured for 2 h in a non-clinical sample.
► Fetal heart rate pattern, body movements and rapid eye movements were recorded.
► Self-regulation in the 8–9 and 14–15 years olds was measured with questionnaires.
► A transition from quiet into active sleep < 3 min leads to better self-regulation.
► This transition reflects adaptive processes and is a precursor of self-regulation.