ACTIMETRY - PRELIMINARY-RESULTS OF A STUD Y FOCUSING ON WAKE-SLEEP CYCLES IN THE NEWBORN

Actimetry in new-borns is relevant if two actimeters are placed, one o n each ankle. This study has been conducted on nine normal three days old new-borns. It has shown an indisputable link between the lack of a ctivity and the observed sleep during the night that was missing durin g the day. The longest period of wake was recorded during the day and the longest period of sleep or inactivity was during the night. This s tudy has confirmed the existence of an ultradian rhythm of quiet sleep and wake. Tt is also possible that a beginning of a circadian rest-ac tivity rhythm exists already in the neonatal period, that is still dis cussed in the litterature.