Anita Miller Sostek

Effect of Bright Light in the Hospital Nursery on the Incidence of Retinopathy of Prematurity

The preterm infant is subjected to prolonged exposure to ambient nursery illumination at levels that have been found to produce retinal damage in animals. We prospectively investigated the effect of exposure to light in two intensive care nurseries by comparing the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity among 74 infants from the standard bright nursery environment (median light level, 60 foot-candles [ftc]) with the incidence among 154 infants of similar birth weight for whom the light levels were reduced (median, 25 ftc). There was a higher incidence of retinopathy of prematurity in the group of infants who had been exposed to the brighter nursery lights, particularly in those with birth weights below 1000 g (86 percent vs. 54 per cent, P less than 0.01 by chi-square test). We conclude that the high level of ambient illumination commonly found in the hospital nursery may be one factor contributing to retinopathy of prematurity and that safety standards with regard to current lighting practices should be reassessed.

Cord blood amine oxidase activities relate to arousal and motor functioning in human newborns

Abstract To examine relationships between amine oxidase activities and behavior prior to significant postnatal experience, umbilical cord blood samples were collected from 28 normal infants, and the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale was administered within 72 hours of birth. Infants with lower platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) and/or lower plasma amine oxidase activity were more highly aroused, more motorically active and more difficult to console than those with higher MAO activity. These behavioral characteristics are remarkably similar to the more elaborate affective and social features which have previously been associated with MAO activity differences in adult humans and rhesus monkeys.

Developmental Outcome of Preterm Infants with Intraventricular Hemorrhage at One and Two Years of Age.

Around 1980, many perinatal centers began prospective cranial screening of preterm infants using portable ultrasonography at the bedside. This study examined developmental outcome at 1 and 2 years in relation to the presence and severity of neonatal intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH). It varies from earlier reports in the size of the sample, restriction to infants without periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), and an attempt to formulate a predictive model by examining development longitudinally. Parametric and nonparametric analyses demonstrated that IVH related to Bayley mental and motor scores and neurologic ratings at 1 year but not at 2 years. Developmental delay and/or neurologic abnormality were more prevalent in infants with severe IVH but were far from universal. Regression analyses on prediction from neonatal and 1-year performance to 2-year scores revealed significant associations between the 1- and 2-year measures but not the neonatal and outcome measures. A direct insult to the CNS such as IVH thus constitutes only a limited model of risk status.

Diuranal rhythms in 2- and 8-week-old infants: sleep-waking state organization as a function of age and stress.

&NA; Time of day differences in sleep‐waking state organization were studied in 2‐ and 8‐week‐old infants by means of videotape recordings. Observations were made prior to and following adaptation to standard laboratory conditions previously found to be stressful. Diurnal rhythms occurred for a number of component sleep‐waking states under the nonstressful conditions only, and increased with age.

Postpartum contact and maternal confidence and anxiety: A confirmation of short-term effects*

Amount of postpartum contact was examined in 34 primiparas and their normal, full-term infants born in a hospital which allowed extensive time together during the day. Although hours of contact were not reduced as part of the design, 18% of the sample were separated from their babies for at least 24 hours due to elevated maternal temperatures without other symptoms. The data were analyzed for both days of separation (which were not determined by the mothers personality) as well as median number of hours of contact which may have been confounded by her attitudes (excluding the separated mothers from the low-contact group). Definite but transient effects of the amount of postpartum contact were found. Maternal confidence was reduced in low-contact and separated mothers during the neonatal period but not at 4–6 weeks or 6 months, and overt (particularly in relation to covert) anxiety was increased in separated mothers 4–6 weeks after the birth. Mother-infant interaction patterns at newborn, 4–6 weeks and 1 year, newborn behavior at 2 days and 4–6 weeks, and infant development at 1 year did not differ in relation to postpartum contact. These data confirm the early findings of enhanced maternal confidence following extended postpartum contact and support more recent reports of contact-related differences in affective behaviors. No support was found for long-term effects, however.

Evidence for the Unconditionability of the Babkin Reflex in Newborns.

SOSTEK, ANITA M.; SAMEROFF, ARNOLD J.; and SOSTEK, ANDREW J. Evidence for the Unconditionability of the Babkin Reflex in Newborns. CHILD DEVELOPMENT, 1972, 43, 509-519. Classical conditioning of the Babkin reflex to arm movements was studied in human newborns. Earlier studies which reported such conditioning lacked appropriate control groups, conditioned stimulus (CS) baseline trials, and state measures. The current study found no evidence for classical conditioning effects. Behavioral state measures indicated that the Ss became more drowsy as the experimental session proceeded. Correlations between state and responding were positive. Amount of medication given to the mother during delivery was negatively related to responsivity. The arm movements elicited gaping as an unconditioned response in some infants, and were considered not appropriate for use as a CS.

Use of time-lapse video recording for the direct measurement of behavior in the mentally retarded

In the present paper behaviors of mentally retarded children were recorded simultaneously on real time and time lapse video recorders. Behaviors on the time lapse recordings occurred at a rate 12 times faster than they actually occurred in real time resulting in a 92 percent reduction in the time required to score the tapes. Reliability estimates from real time and time lapse records were high and correspondence between the two methods was good. The limitations of time lapse and the feasibilities for the extended use of time lapse video recorders in behavioral and ecobehavioral assessment of mentally retarded individuals are discussed.

Impressions of presidents: Effects of information, time, and discrepancy

Sequence types and serial positions affect impression formation based on adjectives or descriptive paragraphs. The present study involved ratings of U.S. presidents after presentation of favorable and unfavorable paragraphs of information. Instructional sets (equal weight or discounting), time spans (long or short), paragraph sets (balanced or discrepant for positive and negative information), and sequence types were manipulated. The results indicate that every sequence type was discriminated and instructions had no effect on impressions. Ratings were higher under the long time span for the discrepant, but not under the balanced, paragraph set. The data were compared with previous studies of impression formation based on the simpler adjective stimuli.