The Effect of Music Listening on Physiological Responses of Premature Infants in the NICU

Controlled trial of live versus recorded lullabies in preterm infants

“…Possibly because, contrary to other studies, our patients were not administered oxygen therapy, so, the fluctuation of the oxygen saturation was more stable (Bo & Callaghan, 2000;Cassidy & Standley, 1995;Desquiotz-Sunnen, 2008;Farhat, Amiri, Karbandi, Esmaily, & Mohammadzadeh, 2010;Keith et al, 2009). Cassidy and Standley's study (1995), for example, found that music improved oxygen saturation, heart and respiratory rate without increasing apneas and bradycardias in infants aged 24-30 weeks gestational age.…”

“…However, tolerance for stimulation at the time of contact must be carefully assessed (Neal & Lindeke, 2008;Shoemark, 2006). Some studies have shown that music therapy is safe for very low birth weight infants (Cassidy & Standley, 1995;Desquiotz-Sunnen, 2008;Haus & Hennecke, 2003). In the scope of our study, agitation was not observed.…”

First‐time Mothers’ Use of Music and Movement with Their Young Infants: The Impact of a Teaching Program

“…In support of Papousek's suggestions, only 2 of the 39 mothers said that they sang lullabies to their infants. Previous research has suggested that lullabies are important because they assist the infants to adjust their mood state (Cassidy & Standley, 1996;Standley & Madsen, 1990).…”

“…Research suggests that the use of song, and in particular lullabies (Brand, 1985;Cassidy & Standley, 1996;Standley & Madsen, 1990;Trainor, 1996), movement (Brazelton, Koslowski & Main, 1974;Hatch & Maietta, 1991) and touch with faceto-face stimulation of mother to infant (Pelaiz-Nogueras, Field, Hossain & Pickens, 1996;Pelaez-Nofueras, Gewirtz, Field, Cigales, Malphurs, Clasky & Sanchez, 1996;Stack & Le Page, 1996;Stack & Muir, 1990, 1992Tronick, 1989) produce positive infant mood states. Beyond this effect of music and movement, Hodges and Haack (1996) suggest that rhythmic behaviour (such as rocking, together with stroking and patting) and intonation through the singing of songs, are musical modes used by mothers to communicate love and affection to their infants.…”

Influences of Temporal Fluctuation on Infant Attention

“…The impact of such music must underlie its increasing use in neonatal intensive care units (Cassidy & Standley, 1995). There is evidence that such singing modulates the arousal level of healthy, nondistressed infants, as reflected in salivary cortisol levels (Shenfield, Trehub, & Nakata, 2003).…”