Cortical activation during KMC in very preterm newborns

The data were collected to assess the functional activation of preterm newborns’ cerebral cortex during kangaroo mother care. Possible effects of gestational age and previous kangaroo mother care experience were also considered. Fifteen preterm newborns were recruited (gestational age: 24-32 weeks). Cortical activation was assessed in frontal, motor and primary somatosensory cortices after 15 and 30 minutes of kangaroo mother care, by multichannel near-infrared spectroscopy (gestational age at assessment: 30-36 weeks). Both oxy- and deoxy-haemoglobin variations were analyzed by t-test. Possible effects of gestational age and previous kangaroo mother care experience on cortical activation were studied by regression analysis. After 15 minutes, bilateral activations (oxy-haemoglobin increase) were observed in frontal, somatosensory and motor cortices. After 30 minutes, the right motor and primary somatosensory cortices were found activated. Deoxy-haemoglobin increased after 15 minutes, returning to baseline at 30 minutes. After 15 minutes, there was a positive effect of gestational age at assessment on both haemoglobin concentrations and a negative effect of previous kangaroo mother care on deoxy-haemoglobin increase. Motor and somatosensory cortices, particularly on the right side, showed significant activation during kangaroo mother care. Kangaroo mother care seems to benefit activated cortical areas by improving oxygen supply.

本数据集的采集旨在评估袋鼠式护理（Kangaroo Mother Care）期间早产新生儿大脑皮层的功能激活状态，同时探究胎龄与既往袋鼠式护理经历可能产生的影响。本研究共招募15名早产新生儿，其入院时胎龄为24~32周。在实施袋鼠式护理15分钟及30分钟后，采用多通道近红外光谱技术（multichannel near-infrared spectroscopy）对受试者的额叶、运动皮层与初级躯体感觉皮层的激活情况进行评估，此时受试者的评估时胎龄为30~36周。研究通过t检验分别分析氧合血红蛋白与去氧血红蛋白的浓度变化，并通过回归分析探究胎龄与既往袋鼠式护理经历对皮层激活的潜在影响。实验结果显示，护理15分钟后，受试者额叶、躯体感觉皮层与运动皮层均观察到双侧激活（氧合血红蛋白水平升高）；护理30分钟后，仅右侧运动皮层与初级躯体感觉皮层出现显著激活。去氧血红蛋白水平在护理15分钟后升高，至30分钟时恢复至基线水平。进一步分析表明，护理15分钟后，评估时胎龄对两种血红蛋白的浓度均存在正向影响，而既往袋鼠式护理经历对去氧血红蛋白的升高具有负向作用。运动皮层与躯体感觉皮层（尤以右侧半球为显著）在袋鼠式护理期间出现明显激活。综上，袋鼠式护理可通过改善氧气供给，对激活的皮层区域产生有益效应。