Assessment of Infant-Caregiver Interaction Using Cardiac, Respiratory, and Behavioral Monitoring: Conceptual and Technical Issues in a New Methodology

This paper presents a discussion of conceptual and technical issues considered critical to the understanding, design, and implementation of developmental research using behavioral and physiologic measures. Background information is presented demonstrating the effectiveness of naturalistic monitoring of infant 24-hour, sleep-awake cycles in determining state regulation, and the importance of this function as it relates to other physiologic subsystems and to infant risk. Also included is a comprehensive report, with illustrations, of a biotelemetry system for concurrent, continuous monitoring of infant behavior, heart beat, and respiration in the naturalistic setting for the purpose of assessing physiologic regulation in relation to caregiving activity.