Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
921208 | Biological Psychology | 2012 | 7 Pages |
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.