Abstract

ANGELES-CASTELLANOS, Manuel et al. Development of biological rhythms in the newborn child. Rev. Fac. Med. (Méx.) [online]. 2013, vol.56, n.3, pp.26-35. ISSN 2448-4865.

Circadian rhythms are endogenously generated with a period length of approximately 24 hours. Studies performed during the past decade indicate that the circadian timing system develops prenatally and the suprachias-matic nucleus, considered the site of the circadian clock, is present by midgestation in primates. Recent evidence also shows that the circadian system of primate infants is responsive to light since very early stages of development and that low-intensity lighting can regulate the developing clock. After birth, there is progressive maturation of the circadian system outputs, with pronounced rhythms on sleep-wake phenomena and hormone secretion; showing the importance of photic regulation on infants. Thus, exposure of premature infants to light/dark cycles results in the fast establishment of rest-activity patterns, which are in phase with the light-dark cycle. The continual study of circadian system development and its influence on human physiology and illness, it is foreseen that the application of circadian biology will become increasingly important for neonatal care.

Keywords : circadian rhythms; infant; human; suprachiasmatic nuclei.

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