Sex Differences in neonatal state and lateralized head orientation.

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
George F. Michel, Professor (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/

Abstract: Sex differences in state and head orientation were examined 10 to 22 hours after birth for 50 healthy, full-term, normal, vaginally delivered neonates. None of the males had been circumcised at the time of testing. The procedure required videotaping for 30 min in three different conditions: supine, seated in an infant seat (inclined 35°), and seated in an assistant,s lap after having arms or legs manipulated for 10 s. Videotapes were analyzed for direction of infant,s head orientation and state. Males spent more time in sleep states than females, and females spent more time than males in alert states. The left or right direction of head orientotion was more associated with alert states for females and with sleep states for males. This sex difference may be relevant for sex differences in handedness and other forms of hemispheric specialization of function.

Additional Information

Publication
Infant Behavior & Development. 1990; 13:461-467
Language: English
Date: 1990
Keywords
Head orientation, Sex differences

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