[The effect of blue light on the behavior of neonates].

In ten healthy neonates the influence of blue light was analyzed, using polygraphy. In each child the polygrams were assessed under two conditions--without irradiation and without irradiation. The length of the sleep, cycle, the length of quit and paradoxical sleep, the respiration rate during both behavioural states, the frequency of rapid eye movements during paradoxical sleep, the incidence of EEG activity corresponding to age and the EMG activity during both behavioural states did not change significantly under the influence of light. Only the number of apnoeic intervals during paradoxical sleep under blue light increased significantly. The authors assessed, using polygraphy, also a control group of ten healthy mature neonates. The two groups of children did not differ significantly in the investigated parameters. The results revealed a great inter- and intraindividual variability which suggests the low stability of the child's behaviour during the first days of life. Among the numerous stimuli of the external and internal environment which modify the behaviour during the period of postpartum adaptation, the influence of blue light did not play a significant role under the above conditions.