Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41629622›Full record

ArticlePediatric research2026

Sleep and infant development in the first year.

Cathal O'Connor, Soraia Ventura, Jacopo Proietti, Marc P O'Sullivan, Geraldine B Boylan, Neonatal Sleep Talks (NEST) group

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Pediatric research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Cathal O'ConnorINFANT Research Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland. cathal.oconnor@ucc.ie.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7084-5293
Soraia VenturaINFANT Research Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2662-1924
Jacopo ProiettiINFANT Research Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5584-4724
Marc P O'SullivanINFANT Research Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6184-3306
Geraldine B BoylanINFANT Research Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0920-5291
Neonatal Sleep Talks (NEST) group

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The trajectory of sleep in the first year of age is highly dynamic and correlates with developmental progress from the neonatal to the infantile period. During this critical period of brain growth, sleep facilitates neural maturation and memory consolidation. This review article examines the current evidence regarding the relationship between sleep and neurodevelopment in the first year of age. Over the first year, total sleep time decreases, nocturnal sleep consolidates with less nocturnal awakenings, and daytime sleep decreases. The dominant sleep state shifts from active sleep in neonates to non-rapid eye movement sleep at 12 months. Specific electroencephalogram (EEG) features include tracé alternant in neonates and sleep spindles and K complexes in infants. Characteristics of sleep spindles serve as biomarkers for neurodevelopmental outcomes. Adequate sleep duration is associated with enhanced white matter development. Healthy sleep parameters are linked to improved memory, language, executive function, sensorimotor skills, and overall cognitive development, whereas abnormal sleep during infancy is associated with cognitive, behavioral, and emotional disturbances. Developmental brain disorders and certain medical conditions are also associated with sleep disruption, indicating a bidirectional relationship. Sleep evolves rapidly in the first year of age, and adequate quantity and quality of sleep are critical for neurodevelopment. IMPACT: Sleep evolves significantly and rapidly during the first year, serving critical and active processes for neuromaturation. These sleep changes occur concurrently with major neurodevelopmental progress. Certain medical conditions, environmental exposures, and socioeconomic factors can disrupt sleep, potentially resulting in neurodevelopmental delay. Additionally, neurodevelopmental disorders are frequently associated with disruption in normal sleep architecture, suggesting a bidirectional relationship between sleep disruption and abnormal neurodevelopment. Future research should explore the neurodevelopmental consequences of medical and socioeconomic conditions that disrupt sleep. It is also essential to identify interventions to mitigate cognitive and behavioral disturbance arising from sleep disruption and to protect sleep health.

Identifiers

PMID41629622

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.