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Clinical Neonatal Neurobehavioral Assessment: Methods and Significance

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Abstract

That the human spirit or temperament might be active from, and influenced by, the natal event has been argued since antiquity. Only within the past decade has it become firmly established that the neonate uses complex integrative neurologic mechanisms to process stimuli and to respond, with remarkable appropriateness, to its environment (24). In modern times this general capacity has been described as “newborn behavior.”

At birth… Let her chant in a low voice, so that the infant’s spirit, rejoicing in harmony, may become cheerful. Let there be not noise in the room or harsh voice or anything else which might frighten the infant.

Paulus Bagellardus, On the Care of the Infant During the First Month, 1494 (19)

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Scanlon, J.W. (1979). Clinical Neonatal Neurobehavioral Assessment: Methods and Significance . In: Marx, G.F. (eds) Clinical Management of Mother and Newborn. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-6173-5_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-6173-5_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-6175-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-6173-5

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