Longitudinal changes in term and preterm infant night wakings: The role of caregiver anxious-depression

Changes in infant night waking during the first year of life are associated with individual (e.g., prematurity) and family (e.g., caregiver psychopathology) factors. This study examined the association between infant night waking and caregiver anxious-depressive symptoms during the first year of life in preterm and term infants. We considered between-person differences and within-person changes in caregiver anxious-depressive symptoms in relation to changes in infant night waking from 2- to 9-months. Racially (30.0% Black, 60.4% White, 9.5% multiracial/other) and socioeconomically (40.0% below median household income) diverse caregivers (N = 445) of full term (n = 258) and preterm (n = 187) infants were recruited from hospitals and clinics in two midwestern states. Caregivers completed measures of anxious-depression and their infant's night waking at four sampling periods (2-, 4-, 6-, and 9-months). Infant night wakings declined from 2- to 9-months. Between-person differences were observed, such that caregivers with higher average anxious-depressive symptoms or infants born full term reported more night wakings. Within-person effects of caregiver anxious-depressive symptoms were not significant. Caregiver anxious-depression is closely associated with infant night wakings. By considering a caregiver's average severity of anxious-depression, healthcare providers can more effectively plan infant sleep interventions. If caregiver anxious-depressive symptoms are ameliorated, night wakings may also decrease.

A-217 Convergent Validity Between the Motor Domains of Pediatractm, and the Ages And Stages Questionnaire – 3rd Edition (ASQ-3)

Objective: PediaTracTM is a web-based tool for tracking infant/toddler development (Lajiness-O’Neill et al., 2021). This study evaluated convergent validity between PediaTracTM Motor domain and motor domains of Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3, Squires & Phillips, 2009).

Method: Participants were 515 term and preterm (< 37 weeks gestation) infant/caregiver dyads in a multi-site validation study of PediaTracTM. Data from 2-, 4-, 6-, and 9-month waves on PediaTracTM and ASQ-3 were included (age corrected for pre-term).

Results: At 2-months, PediaTracTM and ASQ-3 fine motor were moderately correlated in term (r(299) = 0.46, p < 0.001) and preterm (r(216) = 0.30, p < 0.001) infants. Similar relationships were found at 4-months (r(291) = 0.36, p < 0.001 and r(211) = 0.41, p < 0.001, respectively) and 9-months (r(271) = 0.30, p < 0.001 and r(180) = 0.44, p < 0.001, respectively). At 2-months, gross motor assessments were moderately correlated in term (r(299) = 0.48, p < 0.001) and preterm (r(216) = 0.45, p < 0.001) infants. At 4-months, moderate correlations were found. Strongest associations were at 9-months in term (r(271) = 0.63, p < 0.001) and preterm (r(180) = 0.68, p < 0.001) infants. Similar relationships were not found at 6-months (-0.06 < r < 0.08).

Conclusion(s): This study supports convergent validity for the PediaTracTM Motor domain at multiple time points. The lack of association at 6-months may stem from the known lack of sensitivity to motor delays in the ASQ-3 in infancy highlighting the need for further validation of PediaTracTM Motor with direct assessments at each time point.

Neural synchrony examined with magnetoencephalography (MEG) during eye gaze processing in autism spectrum disorders: preliminary findings

BACKGROUND

Gaze processing deficits are a seminal, early, and enduring behavioral deficit in autism spectrum disorder (ASD); however, a comprehensive characterization of the neural processes mediating abnormal gaze processing in ASD has yet to be conducted.

METHODS

This study investigated whole-brain patterns of neural synchrony during passive viewing of direct and averted eye gaze in ASD adolescents and young adults (M Age  = 16.6) compared to neurotypicals (NT) (M Age  = 17.5) while undergoing magnetoencephalography. Coherence between each pair of 54 brain regions within each of three frequency bands (low frequency (0 to 15 Hz), beta (15 to 30 Hz), and low gamma (30 to 45 Hz)) was calculated.

RESULTS

Significantly higher coherence and synchronization in posterior brain regions (temporo-parietal-occipital) across all frequencies was evident in ASD, particularly within the low 0 to 15 Hz frequency range. Higher coherence in fronto-temporo-parietal regions was noted in NT. A significantly higher number of low frequency cross-hemispheric synchronous connections and a near absence of right intra-hemispheric coherence in the beta frequency band were noted in ASD. Significantly higher low frequency coherent activity in bilateral temporo-parieto-occipital cortical regions and higher gamma band coherence in right temporo-parieto-occipital brain regions during averted gaze was related to more severe symptomology as reported on the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R).

CONCLUSIONS

The preliminary results suggest a pattern of aberrant connectivity that includes higher low frequency synchronization in posterior cortical regions, lack of long-range right hemispheric beta and gamma coherence, and decreased coherence in fronto-temporo-parietal regions necessary for orienting to shifts in eye gaze in ASD; a critical behavior essential for social communication.