Abstract
The body movements are considered to be controlled by endogenous factor (central nervous system).The relationship between the body movements and the development of the central nervous system was polygraphically investigated.
All night polygraphic recordings were made in thirty-eight normal children (one month to fourteen years of age).Detection of the body move ments was achieved by the EEG artifact method.The body movements were analyzed by 1) BMs/min. (frequency of the body movements per minute), 2) % Epochs (percentage of the 20 second epochs with positive body movements in the total number of 20second epochs) and 3) % BMsT (the total duration of the body movements expressed as percentage to the total sleep time).
In total sleep, BMs/min., % Epochs and BMsT decreased rapidly until 3 months after birth, and did not change significantly from 4 months to 7 months of age.These decreased again until 10-12 months, and became constant after 12 months.In REM sleep, BMs/min., Epochs and % BMsT decreased rapidly until 3 months after birth, and thereafter tended to decrease with age.In NREM sleep, although BMs/min.and % Epochs were constant until 7months after birth, they decreased from 8 months to 10-12 months.Thereafter they became constant.% BMsT decreased until 10-12 months, and was constant thereafter.The changes in body movements during REM sleep were more remarkable than during NREM sleep.
These data suggest that the body movements during sleep reflect the development of the central nervous system, and may be useful for the diagnosis of central nervous disorders.
