New research shows that daily doses of instrumental lullabies can help preterm infants sleep better and feel more comfortable in the NICU, opening the door to innovative care practices that support brain development. Study: Impact of daily music on comfort scores in preterm infants: a randomized controlled trial . Image Credit: Ratchat / Shutterstock Scientists at the University Medical Center Utrecht in the Netherlands have conducted a study to explore the impact of music on the comfort, sleep, and physiological stability of preterm infants.
The study is published in the journal Pediatric Research . Background Premature birth significantly increases the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in infants. The stress-inducing sensory environment experienced by infants within clinical settings is believed to be partly responsible for these disorders.
Lack of meaningful sensory inputs, such as the mother’s voice, may hinder sensory-dependent plasticity in preterm infants during their stay in the neonatal intensive care unit. Early sensory experiences, such as low-frequency sounds of the mother's heartbeat and voice, are crucial for healthy brain development. In this context, evidence indicates that fetal brain plasticity is associated with the intrauterine vibroacoustic experience, including low-frequency, regular rhythms of the mother’s heartbeat, voice, and digestive noises.
The instrumental version of Brahms’ Lullaby was used to avoid any cultural or vocal biases, and its .
