Infant sleep at 10 months of age as a window to cognitive development

This study examined the association between steep-wake patterns and achievements on the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, in a tow-risk sample of 10-month-olds. The steep of 50 infants was recorded at home by means of a small activity monitor (actigraph). More motor activity in steep and more fragmented steep pattern were moderately associated with tower mental developmental index (MDI) scores. The psychomotor developmental index (PDI) was not associated with the steep characteristics. The finding that at the end of the first year, steep quality accounted for a significant, albeit small, percentage of the cognitive achievement variance is in line with a model that links sleep-wake states and behavior regulation during arousal. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.