The Sleep of Babies (1970)

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This film introduces the concept that newborn sleep is not a single, unchanging state, but rather consists of two distinct types: active sleep and quiet sleep. Researchers are studying infant sleep because the organization of sleep patterns and specific behaviors during sleep can indicate rapid maturational changes and predict future learning and perception. The film details the characteristics of each sleep type, including observable behaviors like facial movements, body movements, vocalizations, and physiological indicators like respiration and brain electrical activity (EEG). Methods for recording and analyzing these behaviors, such as behavioral coding, slow-motion and time-lapse filming, and cumulative recordings of eye movements, are presented. These techniques allow for a deeper understanding of sleep organization and provide insights into infant development.

Keywords: Newborn sleep, active sleep, quiet sleep, sleep-wake cycles, infant development, behavioral observation, physiological recording, electroencephalogram (EEG), rapid eye movements (REM), spontaneous motor discharge (SMD), maturational changes.