Habituation as Parameter for Prediction of Mental Development in Healthy Preterm Infants: An Electrophysiological Pilot Study.

The aim of this prospective pilot study was to evaluate the predictive value of discrimination and habituation, which was measured by mismatch negativity in 17 healthy very preterm (mean gestational age 27.4 weeks; range 25.0-31.3) and 16 term (mean gestational age 40.3 weeks; range 37.9-41.7) born infants at term equivalent age. Developmental outcome was measured by Bayley Scales of Infant Development-I in 13 preterm and 13 term-born children at a mean age of 21.7 months (±2.18) and 18.5 months (±1.9), respectively. No differences in amplitude and latency of the mismatch negativity were found between both groups at term equivalent age. Within the preterm group habituation capacity was positively correlated with the Mental Developmental Index (r = .654, P = .008) and Performance Developmental Index (r = .482, P = .048) at 21 months. Early learning capability, as measured by habituation, may be associated with a better prognosis for early mental development in healthy preterm infants.