Delta (0.5-1.5 Hz) and sigma (11.5-15.5 Hz) EEG power dynamics throughout quiet sleep in malnourished infants

• Published in: Developmental psychobiology 1999-05, Vol.34 (4), p.315-323
• Main Authors: Fagioli, Igino, Ktonas, Periklis, Salzarulo, Piero
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: delta frequency band; Electroencephalography; Humans; Infant; Infant Behavior - physiology; Malabsorption Syndromes - complications; Male; malnutrition; Nutrition Disorders - diagnosis; Nutrition Disorders - etiology; Nutritional Status; Regression Analysis; sigma frequency band; sleep EEG; Sleep Stages - physiology; spectral analysis
• ISSN: 0012-1630; 1098-2302
• DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1098-2302(199905)34:4<315::AID-DEV7>3.0.CO;2-H

The present study aimed to quantify, through power spectral analysis, the dynamics (temporal pattern and temporal interrelationship) of the EEG power in the low‐delta (Δ) and in the sigma‐spindle (σ) frequency band during quiet sleep (QS) in 5 malnourished infants (MI), 5.5 to 13.5 months old, and in 5 age‐matched, healthy control infants (CI). Malnutrition results in modification of the temporal pattern of Δ and σ band power during QS. The Δ band power increases faster in MI than in CI, leading to higher power levels in MI at the same time segment. However, the overall trend of the Δ band power throughout QS is similar in MI and CI. The premature ending of QS phases (uninterrupted QS periods), and the reduced total amount of QS which have been reported in MI could result in an increased slow wave sleep (SWS) “pressure”. This SWS pressure could account for both the higher level and the faster increase of the Δ band power during the QS phase which are found in MI when compared to CI. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 34: 315–323, 1999