Motor behavioral cues of term and preterm infants at 3 months

Motor behaviors are interpreted as ''cues'' to levels of engagement or arousal in newborn infants. However, construct validity of these behaviors as cues among infants with differing medical histories has not been adequately addressed beyond the neonatal period. This study compared patterns of occurrence in motor behaviors frequently interpreted as cues in full-term infants (n = 30) and three diagnostic groups of preterm infants (n = 62) at 3 months corrected age. A computerized real-time coding system was used for video analysis during standard infant-mother and temperament assessment protocols. Composites representing frequencies and durations of engagement, disengagement, facial expression, and midline behaviors were compared between groups using ANOVA with contrasts. Engagement and disengagement behaviors were represented equally among the groups. Behaviors associated with midline activity highlighted differences between infants with and without neurological involvement, whereas smiling differentiated healthy preterm infants or term infants from those with a history of illness or neurological involvement.