Music's Effects on Premature Babies.
Music's Effects on Premature Babies.
This project is being done in order to determine if the music of Mozart will have a soothing
 effect on premature infants while in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The primary
 effect to be anticipated will be a reduction in heart rate from baseline, decreased motor
 activity from baseline, as well as an increase of time in which the babies are in quiet sleep
 states while the music is being played.

 Upon admission, all infants in the NICU are placed on monitors that continuously track their
 heart rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation. During our study, data will be collected
 from the monitors already in use. Total time of observation will be approximately 3 hours. In
 addition, a monitoring device called an Actiwatch will also be used. This device looks
 similar to a traditional wristwatch and will be loosely strapped to the ankle or wrist of
 each infant using a foam and velcro strap. This device continuously monitors the baby's
 movements allowing us to determine if there is a change in the baby's activity level while
 the music is being played. It will record the baby's activity prior to the start of the music
 and will continue until 30 minutes after the music has stopped.

 The music of Mozart will be played using a small speaker in the baby's isolette. The volume
 of the music will be set at 10 decibels over background noise, which on previous measurement
 has been found to be approximately 55 decibels (about the same as a running refrigerator or
 as the sound of rainfall; 60 decibels is the volume of normal conversation). The volume in
 the crib will be continuously monitored throughout the hour. As a final recording device, we
 will also intermittently be using video to capture the reactions of these infants to the
 music. The study will be done once a week per infant on the same day and at the same time
 every week
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  All infants born at 28 weeks gestation or who are at least 28 weeks corrected age are
 eligible to participate. Only those in isolettes (incubators) will be included. Once a
 baby has been transitioned to a bassinet or crib, the baby will be pulled from the
 study. In order to be included, these infants must be in stable condition (without
 serious active medical issues) as decided by their doctor and must be breathing
 without the use of a ventilator.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Exclusion criteria will include a history of intraventricular hemorrhage involving the
 white matter (as diagnosed by head ultrasound), as well as those infants born with
 severe congenital deformities.