Effect of NICU Illumination upon Behaviors in Preterm Infants

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of illumination in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) on behaviors and behavioral states in preterm infants. The Ss were individually observed twice in a day for a period of one hour by a video recording system. The results showed that rates of awakening and eye-opening during the awake state were higher, and their eyes were opened more widely under the dark condition than the bright. The bright condition increased the rate of Behavior State II and the dark one decreased Behavior State III. Respiratory and cardiac responses, however, had nothing to do with the illumination level in the NICU. These results may suggest significant practical as well as theoretical implications for the early care of preterm infants in the NICU