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Infants failed to show cortisol awakening response
Bright MA. Dev Psychobiol. 2011;doi:10.1002/dev.20617.
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Cortisol levels decreased in infants from the time of waking to 30 minutes after waking, according to study results.
Researchers at the University of Georgia and Johns Hopkins School of Nursing said the hippocampus is deactivated and the suprachiasmatic nucleus is activated upon waking in adults. When these two things occur, an increase in cortisol release from structures within the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis also occurs and is known as the cortisol awakening response. The current study investigated this response in infants.
Thirty-two mothers collected saliva samples from themselves and their infants (aged 7.8-17.4 months) at four time points: when the infants awoke in the morning; 30 minutes after morning waking; when the infants awoke from a first nap; and 30 minutes after that.
A decline in cortisol awakening response was observed in infants between morning waking and 30 minutes after waking. Cortisol levels at waking were 0.35 mcg/dL (standard deviation [SD]=0.20) and 0.29 mcg/dL (SD=0.16) 30 minutes after waking (P=.046).
No significant increase or decrease in cortisol levels was observed after naps.
No significant variation in cortisol levels was observed in mothers after infants transitioned from sleep to waking in the morning or after naps.
Prior research has suggested links between cortisol levels for mother–infant pairs. Results of the current study demonstrate a similar phenomenon.
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