A Walsh—Fourier Analysis of the Effects of Moderate Maternal Alcohol Consumption on Neonatal Sleep-State Cycling
Abstract Recent discussions of the functional significance of ultradian rhythms emphasize their importance to human physiology. Over the past 25 years, electroencephalographic (EEG) sleep patterns have been used in assessing the cerebral and central nervous system maturation of neonates. Through an interdisciplinary effort, spectral (Fourier) methods have been developed to discriminate between the various stages of sleep based on EEG recordings. Nevertheless, there has been little effort to develop methods for the statistical analysis of sleep-state cycling. In particular, attention has primarily been focused on the ultradian rhythm of sleep as it cycles between two states, active or rapid eye movement (REM) and quiet or non-REM sleep. There are, however, several components of REM and non-REM sleep, as well as a transitional state (indeterminate sleep) and abrupt alterations of state (arousal). Moreover, few studies have investigated the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on the neurophysiological devel...