ESTUDO FISIO-ETOLÓGICO DO COMPORTAMENTO CARDÍACO DE RECÉMNASCIDOS A TERMO DIANTE DE VOCALIZAÇÕES MATERNAS E NÃOMATERNAS EM PADRÃO ADULTO-NATURAL E MOTHERESE

Abstract

The aim of this work was: to evaluate the newborn s heart rate (HR) changes using live maternal and non-maternal vocalizations in adult-directed and motherese patterns. The work methodology was based in natural observation and continuous recording of the audio-cardiac behavior. The experiment was performed using a ABA design. From a population of seventy mother/newborn dyads that agreed to participate only fifteen were selected; they fulfilled the inclusion s criteria and completed the test. The participants were divided in two groups: drowsy (S) and wakefulness (V), in function of how alert they were during the test. The newborn s HR was observed in an ordered sequence of presentation and suppression periods of vocalizations. HR recordings were taken from a HR-counter in three seconds intervals. The data was analyzed using parametric tests (0.01). T-test were used to evaluate the significance of HR differences obtained in pre-stimulus post-stimulus and stimulation periods. Presentation and suppression of maternal and non-maternal adult-directed and motherese vocalizations differentiately modified the newborn s inner states according to gender and alertness state, suggesting the presence of perceptual stimulus processing abilities. These behaviors and abilities could be associated with a sensible period of attachment and bonding and deserve attention in future researches. In the Phonoaudiology field, the use of a single ABA drawing using live non-maternal motherese voice could turn make behavioral hearing screening of newborn infants, with (or without) risk of congenital deafness, easier.