RELIABLE INDIVIDUAL-DIFFERENCES IN PRETERM INFANTS EXCITATION MANAGEMENT

2 large independent cohorts of preterm infants ranging between 32 week s and term were given a neurobehavioral assessment (the NAPI) that mea sures, among other things, individual differences in excitation manage ment. This assessment, which has high test-retest reliability and deve lopmental and clinical validity, presents each infant with an identica l sequence of events. infant reactions to the standard stimulation pro vided by this assessment were used as measures of differential excitab ility. The results showed that over a period of weeks, preterms were h ighly self-consistent in their reactions. Highly reliable individual d ifferences between infants were also seen. The self-consistencies and individual differences were independent of the infants' prior medical complications. With very few exceptions, these results replicated over the 2 independent cohorts. The individual consistencies and differenc es in excitation management found in this study might predispose child ren to later differences in temperament.