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Behavior of Human Neonates *
Author(s) -
KAWASAKI Chisato
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
congenital anomalies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1741-4520
pISSN - 0914-3505
DOI - 10.1111/j.1741-4520.1994.tb00802.x
Subject(s) - habituation , medicine , affect (linguistics) , pediatrics , infant development , psychology , developmental psychology , audiology , communication
Clinical methods of neonatal neurobehavioral evaluation are outlined, and the conceptual basis and the procedures of Brazelton's Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS) which is most widely used is described in detail. The studies which have been conducted to date using the NBAS are reviewed, and future directions in the assessment of neonatal behavior are explored. Infants showed following behavioral characteristics: Healthy Japanese infants show higher habituation and orientation scores with lower motor activity score than American Caucasian counterparts. Japanese infants with intra‐uterine growth retardation (IUGR) show mild deviation of Apgar score, and maternal toxemia has an effect on the neonatal behavior as well as neurological signs. In Japanese infants, the mental‐motor development during infancy is significantly correlated with the neonatal behavior and family environment. Studies of normal and high‐risk infants revealed that both perinatal complications and cultural background affect the neonatal behavior.