Digital Commons Network^™

Neonate Psychophysiological Responses To Ambient Features Of The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Dorothy De La Cruz-Schmedel

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Hospital treatment environments have become a major concern in recent years. Noise and illumination are potential stress sources in hospitals. The purpose ofthis study was to examine the effects of hospital noise levels and ambient illumination on newborn infants (neonates). Noise levels and lighting were varied and the effect upon neonatal heart rate, respiration rate, blood pressure, and oxygen consumption were measured. These measures are sensitive tosympathetic nervous system reactivity such as that brought about by stressful environments. In addition, noise and lighting levels were measured to determine if differences existed across conditions. Psychophysiological responses to various noise and lighting …