Studying Newborns' Brain Activity in the NICU Through a Musical Intervention: the Role of Fundamental Frequency

Research Design and Methodology

Adopting an exploratory/randomized control trial (RCT) design, this study is meticulously planned to evaluate the effects of musical interventions on premature infants housed within a NICU setting. Therefore, participants, specifically newborns born at ≤ 32 weeks of gestation who meet stringent inclusion criteria, are randomly assigned to either an intervention group that receives structured musical interventions for a week or a control group that does not receive any musical stimulation. This methodological approach ensures a controlled examination of the intervention's efficacy, attributing observed neurophysiological changes directly to the musical stimuli.

Data Collection Protocol

The data collection protocol employs a dual approach: quantitative EEG for capturing the infants' brain activity and qualitative video recordings to document the dynamic interactions between the infants and the music facilitators. This multifaceted strategy ensures a comprehensive analysis of the effects of musical interventions, facilitated by a diverse group of individuals including male and female music therapists, and the infants' parents. Such diversity allows for a nuanced exploration of how different human profiles influence the intervention's impact on brain activity patterns.

Tools for Data Collection

The primary instrument for data collection is an 6-channel EEG system, chosen for its precision in measuring the complex electrical dynamics of the infants' brains. This is complemented by a high definition video camera that aims to capture the qualitative dimensions of the intervention, such as the infants' behavioral responses and the nuanced interaction dynamics between the infant and the facilitator. Together, these tools promise a holistic dataset that bridges the gap between neurophysiological and behavioral observations.

Data Analysis Protocol

The data analysis framework is comprehensive, incorporating (tentatively) a Repeated Measures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to scrutinize brain activity across different conditions, facilitators and qEEG features. This is to dissect the EEG data across the available condition variables, identifying specific patterns and variations indicative of the musical stimuli's impact.

Significance and Expected Outcomes

By melding advanced methodological design with innovative data collection and analysis techniques, the project is uniquely positioned to elucidate the neurodevelopmental benefits of musical interventions for premature infants in the NICU environment.

Inclusion criteria

• Born at (equal or less than) 32 weeks of gestation
• Absence of auditory insufficiency in the 8th cranial nerve and excessive pathology in the brainstem
• Negative bilateral "transient evoked otoacoustic emissions," indicating unresponsiveness of the inner ear to an acoustic stimulus.
• Weighing 1000 grams or more
• In stable health conditions with no imminent risk of death
• Not sedated
• Absence of neonatal sepsis.
• No congenital, genetic, or chromosomal abnormalities.
• No nuclear jaundice.
• No maternal use of illicit drugs during pregnancy.
• No necessity for mechanical ventilation that creates excessive noise (i.e., high-frequency oscillatory ventilation).
• No need for sedative drug administration to the neonate.
• Absence of endocrine disorders (e.g., congenital hypothyroidism).

Exclusion criteria

• If a newborn is diagnosed with a disease or dysfunction during the study and the medical staff recommends their removal, they will be automatically excluded from the recruited sample.
• Use of other music stimulation during the implementation of the intervention period