Sleep Spindle Characteristics in a Normal Developing Infant Cohort from the Western Cape of S Africa
Updated: Nov 5, 2023
Title Talk: Sleep Spindle Characteristics in a Normal Developing Infant Cohort from the Western Cape of South Africa
Author:
Helishia Dirks
Affiliations:
1. University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
2. Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
Email: helishia17@yahoo.com
Volume: Cognitive Science_02_CN46_AA03
International Live Conference on Brain and Cognitive Science Date: November 4th, 2023 Time: 8:00 PM Indian Standard Time (IST)
Location: Online LinkedIn: Live Stream Link
Title: Sleep Spindle Characteristics in a Normal Developing Infant Cohort from the Western Cape of South Africa
Authors:
Helishia Dirks
Affiliations:
1. Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town
2. Neurology and Neurophysiology Department, Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital
Abstract:
Introduction: Sleep spindles are oscillating potentials generated in the thalamus of the brain. They are linked to memory consolidation during sleep. Their absence in infants beyond 3 months of age indicates cognitive impairment.
Aim: This study examines 3 to 9-month-old infants to obtain standardized criteria of the density, frequency and spindle duration for this age group in a South African population. It also examines whether sleep spindle characteristics of infants from a socioeconomically challenged setting differ from their American and European counterparts, from where most data originates.
Methodology: Infants with normal developmental milestones and no evidence of neuro-insults were identified from routine referrals for electroencephalogram (EEG). Most patients were referred for concern of possible seizures, apneas or breath-holding events and subsequently found to have no abnormal neurology or neurological disorder. Additional exclusion criteria were any pre- or perinatal insult, or an infant born preterm. Retrospective examination of 55 children’s EEGs performed between January 2018 and July 2023 was done. Manual scoring of the density, frequency and duration of each individual EEG was obtained and analyzed by a specialist pediatric EEG technologist. A qualified Neurologist independently rated the EEG scoring. Differences were resolved by a paediatric neurology specialist. Findings were statistically analyzed utilizing the Redcap and SPSS software. Of the 55 participants, 27 (49%) were male and 28 (50.9%). were female. Sleep recording was obtained via natural sleep in 35 patients (63.6%), and 20 (36.4%) were given melatonin.
Results: Mean density, duration and frequency was recorded. Average sleep density for all age groups were between 2-6 spindles/minute with a mean of 3.8 spindles per min, average duration was 2.3 seconds and frequency mean 12.46Hz. The average sleep time was 30 minutes.
Conclusion: There was no statistically significant difference between the density, duration and frequency of the infants between 3-9 months of age in the sample group as well as between the sample and international data, confirming similar findings from high income regions of the world. There was also no significant difference between the sleep spindle characteristics of the natural sleep group and melatonin sleep induced infants. Establishing normative data of sleep spindles density, duration and frequency in this South African population is important and provides a baseline for future studies exploring sleep spindle formation in neurologically at-risk infants.
