Music's Effects on Premature Babies.

This project is being done in order to determine if the music of Mozart will have a soothing effect on premature infants while in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The primary effect to be anticipated will be a reduction in heart rate from baseline, decreased motor activity from baseline, as well as an increase of time in which the babies are in quiet sleep states while the music is being played.

Upon admission, all infants in the NICU are placed on monitors that continuously track their heart rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation. During our study, data will be collected from the monitors already in use. Total time of observation will be approximately 3 hours. In addition, a monitoring device called an Actiwatch will also be used. This device looks similar to a traditional wristwatch and will be loosely strapped to the ankle or wrist of each infant using a foam and velcro strap. This device continuously monitors the baby's movements allowing us to determine if there is a change in the baby's activity level while the music is being played. It will record the baby's activity prior to the start of the music and will continue until 30 minutes after the music has stopped.

The music of Mozart will be played using a small speaker in the baby's isolette. The volume of the music will be set at 10 decibels over background noise, which on previous measurement has been found to be approximately 55 decibels (about the same as a running refrigerator or as the sound of rainfall; 60 decibels is the volume of normal conversation). The volume in the crib will be continuously monitored throughout the hour. As a final recording device, we will also intermittently be using video to capture the reactions of these infants to the music. The study will be done once a week per infant on the same day and at the same time every week