The effect of sleep state on electroretinographic (ERG) activity during early human development

To assess the effects of sleep state on human retinal electric responses, f ull-field electroretinograms were obtained in a cross-sectional study from 123 preterm infants at 36, 40 and 56 weeks of post-gestational age. At each age, electroretinographic recordings were assigned to one of two groups ac cording to whether the infants were in active sleep or quiet sleep. Both sl eep states were determined behaviorally. Pure rod, maximal, 30Hz flicker an d light adapted single cone responses were evaluated when a sleep state was clearly established. Peak-to-peak amplitudes of most electroretinographic responses were significantly larger in active sleep relative to quiet sleep at 36 and 40 weeks of post-gestational age. We speculate that larger ampli tudes during active sleep may play a role in the maturation of the visual s ystem. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.