Are the behavioural states of the newborn comparable to those of the fetus?

Pillai, Mary; James, David

doi:10.1016/0378-3782(90)90024-d

Cited by 66 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…This finding is consistent with two prior studies [12,13] but contrary to most indicating no significant sex differences in fetal activity [2,[14][15][16][17]. Given that all of these studies were based on samples of less than one hundred while the present study was derived from a sample of more than six and a half thousand, the inconsistency may be attributed to the much greater statistical power in the present study.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…While two of these studies reported that male fetuses were more active than female fetuses [12,13], the majority have indicated that the differences are non-significant [14][15][16][17]. It is important to note that all of these studies were based on samples of less than one hundred pregnant women and that the time during which each woman was monitored with ultra sound were typically less than two hours.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sex differences in fetal activity and childhood hyperactivity

Ellis¹,

He²

2014

Res J Dev Biol

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Background: Most studies have failed to identify significant sex differences in movement (or activity) during fetal development. However, the sample sizes and lengths of time fetuses were monitored in these studies have been limited. Aim and methods: Using the recollections provided by a sample of 6,546 mothers, this study examines variations in fetal activity levels for every month of pregnancy. Evidence was also sought that fetal activity might beassociated with hyperactivity/ hyperkinesis following birth. Results: By the fourth month of pregnancy, mothers reported that males were significantly more active in the womb than females. Also, fetal activity was positively correlated with hyperactivity following birth, especially for males. Conclusion: Despite numerous prior studies derived from small samples failing to reveal significant sex differences in fetal activity, the present study demonstrates that males are about 10% more active than females during the latter two-thirds of pregnancy and are even more so following birth. Furthermore, even within each gender, fetal activity predicted hyperactivity in childhood, thus indicating that there must be a common biological root for variations in activity levels.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex differences in fetal activity and childhood hyperactivity

Ellis¹,

He²

2014

Res J Dev Biol

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“…It is possible, therefore, that mechanisms similar to those proposed to tune the withdrawal reflexes are involved in the developmental tuning of other motor systems. If so, "spontaneous" movements during prenatal and early postnatal life (Edwards and Edwards, 1970;Pillai and James, 1990) may constitute the observable effects of developmental "test pulses" emitted from different central motor systems. Figure 6.…”

Section: General Aspectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Developmental Adaptation of Rat Nociceptive Withdrawal Reflexes after Neonatal Tendon Transfer

Holmberg

Schouenborg

et al. 1997

J. Neurosci.

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Nociceptive withdrawal reflexes (NWRs) were studied in adult rats in which the movement patterns produced by single muscles had been altered by neonatal tendon transfer. NWRs evoked by cutaneous noxious mechanical and thermal (CO 2 -laser) stimulation were recorded using electromyography in a decerebrate spinal preparation. The sensitivity distribution within the receptive fields of the NWRs of the extensor digitorum longus and the peronei muscles exhibited changes corresponding to the altered movement patterns. No detectable change of NWRs was found in normal muscles whose receptive fields overlapped that of the modified muscle. Furthermore, NWRs of muscles that regained an essentially normal function after neonatal tendon transfer did not differ from normal. It is proposed that a developmental experience-dependent mechanism, which takes into account the hindlimb movement pattern caused by contraction of single muscles, underlies the functionally adapted organization of adult NWRs.

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“…For example, while chronic pain can provoke an excess of sleep or of irritability, a sudden awakening, or crying, are indicators of acute pain. Some pain scales include the evaluation of babies' capability to rest or to sleep (35)(36)(37). Even in the fetus, it is possible to evaluate the behavioral states and their changes after stress (38,39).…”

Section: Behavioral Statesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pain Assessment in Human Fetus and Infants

Bellieni

2012

AAPS J

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Abstract. In humans, painful stimuli can arrive to the brain at 20-22 weeks of gestation. Therefore several researchers have devoted their efforts to study fetal analgesia during prenatal surgery, and during painful procedures in premature babies. Aim of this paper is to gather from scientific literature the available data on the signals that the human fetus and newborns produce, and that can be interpreted as signals of pain. Several signs can be interpreted as signals of pain. We will describe them in the text. In infants, these signs can be combined to create specific and sensible pain assessment tools, called pain scales, used to rate the level of pain.

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Are the behavioural states of the newborn comparable to those of the fetus?

Cited by 66 publications

References 18 publications

Sex differences in fetal activity and childhood hyperactivity

Sex differences in fetal activity and childhood hyperactivity

Developmental Adaptation of Rat Nociceptive Withdrawal Reflexes after Neonatal Tendon Transfer

Pain Assessment in Human Fetus and Infants

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