Trial reportPediatric research2024
Maternal singing sustains preterm hospitalized newborns' autonomic nervous system maturation: an RCT.
Trial report in Pediatric research, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT04759573 (Effects of Early Vocal Contact), which is not on this map. Cited by 8 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Effects of Early Vocal Contact (EVC) in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Multi-centre, Randomized Clinical Trial
Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 12 citations in OpenAlex.
- Effectiveness of music therapy intervention on parent-infant attachment and parental anxiety in premature infants care: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Pediatric research · 2026Pooled it
- The origins of embodiment: behavioral and cardiovascular responses to music in very preterm newborns.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Reimagining maternal and infant wellbeing through AI-embedded integrative arts-based care: a public health perspective.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Cardiorespiratory mechanisms triggered during music perception in preterm infants and adults.iScience · 2025Article
- Maternal singing and speech have beneficial effects on preterm infant's general movements at term equivalent age and at 3 months: an RCT.Frontiers in psychology · 2025Article
- Predictors influencing neurodevelopment during the infancy of term infants.Frontiers in pediatrics · 2025Article
- The effects of maternal voice on pain during placement of peripherally inserted central catheter in neonates.Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Early parental vocal contact in neonatal units: rationale and clinical guidelines for implementation.Frontiers in neurology · 2024Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
14 authors at 7 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundPremature birth is known to affect the newborn's autonomic nervous system (ANS) maturation, with potential short and long-term impact on their neurobehavioral development. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of maternal directed singing and speaking on the preterm infants' autonomic nervous system (ANS) maturation as measured by the heart rate variability (HRV) parameters.
methodsIn this multi-center randomized clinical trial, 30 stable preterm infants (m = 29,6 weeks of gestational age), without any abnormalities were randomized into an intervention (16) or a control group (14). HRV was measured weekly, for a total of 80 recordings during hospitalization, as well as before and after each session of singing or speaking.
resultsThe intervention group showed a significant increase of the percentage value of HRV power in the high frequency range when compared to the control group (p = 0.044). More specifically, the maternal singing significantly increased the high frequency power and decreased the low/high frequency power ratio (p = 0.037).
conclusionsThe preterm infant's vagal activity significantly increased in the intervention group, potentially enhancing their ANS maturation. The effect is specifically evidenced in the singing condition. IMPACT: Maternal singing affects the autonomic nervous system maturation of preterm hospitalized newborns in the NICU. No previous studies investigated how early vocal parental intervention can affect preterm infants developement, throught their autonomic nervous system maturation. Early Vocal Contact as an early intervention involving parents has a positive impact on preterm infant's development and it can be easily implemented in the care of preterm infants.
trial registrationNCT04759573, retrospectively registered, 17 February 2021.
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