Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Objective: To review the major confounding factors that influence the determination of arousal thresholds in infants. Review of confounding factors: The determination of arousal thresholds in infants measures their arousability from sleep. The evaluation is influenced by various conditions. The infant's arousability is decreased by maternal factors, such as exposure to cigarette smoke, alcohol, illegal drugs or medications during gestation or breastfeeding. The levels of arousal thresholds also depend on the age of the infant and on experimental conditions, such as previous sleep deprivation, type of arousal challenges, time of administration of the arousal challenge, sleep stage, body position, room temperature, use of a pacifier, bed sharing, or type of feeding. In addition, spontaneous arousals can occur and modify the infant's response to external arousal challenges. Conclusions: Factors known to modify infants' arousability from sleep should be controlled during studies designed to determine arousal thresholds. © 2000 Elsevier Science B.V.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/S1389-9457(00)00049-6

Type

Journal article

Journal

Sleep Medicine

Publication Date

01/10/2000

Volume

1

Pages

273 - 278