Development of sleep-wake cycles in the premature infant – a case study

Introduction: It has been established that the late development of sleep-wake rhythm in newborns can be the first sign of brain injury and is associated with later pathological neuro-developmental outcome. Different sleep states can be identified from the 31st weeks of gestation on. The aim of this case study was to analyze in detail the emergence of sleep-wake rhythm in an extreme premature infant, with the means of conventional Video-EEG, behavioral states, physiological variables, and amplitude-integrated EEG (aEEG). Methods: Three consecutive measurements were performed in the 28th, 31st, and 35th weeks of g…