Skin conductance shows the emotional state, as reflected in changes in the
sympathetic nervous system. Skin conductance changes (number and amplitude
of the waves, as well as mean skin conductance level) were measured in conn
ection with heel prick from 29 weeks gestational age. The purposes of this
study were to examine the development of emotional sweating in preterm infa
nts, and to correlate the changes in emotional sweating with the changes in
behavioural state.
Fifty infants' behavioural state and skin conductance changes were measured
for 2 min before, 2 min during, and 2 min after heel prick, Half of the in
fants were between 29 and 31 weeks gestational age. They were divided into
three sub-groups; 0-10, 11-20 and 21-30 days postnatal age. The other half
of the infants were between 32 and 34 weeks gestational age and they were d
ivided into three similar sub-groups. They changed their behavioural state
114 times.
Infants from 29 weeks gestational age and more than 10 days old showed emot
ional sweating as measured by the number and amplitude of the waves that we
re lowest in sleep and highest during crying (p < 0.05). The mean skill con
ductance level mirrored the behavioural state from 34 weeks gestational age
(p < 0.05).
To conclude, skin conductance changes increased with the level of behaviour
al state from 29 weeks gestational age and more than 10 days postnatal age.
(C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.