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The Use of the Semi‐Markov Model in the Study of the Development of Sleep‐Wake States in Infants
Author(s) -
Bowe Thomas R.,
Anders Thomas F.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
psychophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.661
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1469-8986
pISSN - 0048-5772
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8986.1979.tb01436.x
Subject(s) - sleep (system call) , autocorrelation , psychology , markov model , markov chain , wake , markov process , hidden markov model , developmental psychology , statistics , computer science , artificial intelligence , mathematics , engineering , aerospace engineering , operating system
Employing a semi‐Markov model, all‐night sleep‐wake patterns of 68 full‐term, normal infants, 32 at 2 mos and 36 at 9 mos of age, were analyzed. The results are compared to the changes in proportional relationships of sleep‐wake states with age and to the time series method of binary autocorrelation. Simulated nights of sleep were also computed using parameters derived from the semi‐Markov model. We conclude that the sleep process in infants meets the assumptions of a semi‐Markov model and that using such a model provides information about the maturation of transition and sequencing mechanisms of sleep‐wake states. Simulating sleep patterns offers an opportunity to model hypothetical disturbances of sleep and assess the effectiveness of potential interventions.