Study of the Emergence of Sensory Self-awareness in Premature Newborns Using the Rooting Reflex

Presence of the Rooting Reflex on Preterms' ? Study of the Emergence of Sensory Self-awareness in Premature Newborns: Comparison of the Rooting Reflex Response Between Facilitated Self-stimulation and External Stimulation

The main objective is to demonstrate the presence of the rooting reflex in premature and the emergence of sensory self-awareness in premature by showing a difference in the response of the rooting reflex to external tactile stimulation and to facilitated tactile self-stimulation during quiet wakefulness.

The main hypothesis is to confirm the tactile skills of the very premature newborn in exploring the rooting reflex and then to evaluate the emergence of sensory self-awareness.

The investigators assume a difference in response in favour of a greater response of the newborn to external tactile stimulation compared to facilitated self-stimulation in favour of the distinction between self and non-self showing the emergence of a sensory awareness of self in the preterm newborn.

Touch is the first sense to develop in foetal life. Children born prematurely have early tactile skills, in particular the ability to discriminate and learn. These tactile skills can be expressed through the newborn's reflexes. The sensory exploration that takes place when reflexes are manifested can be the basis for tactile learning and, in particular, for the development of the baby's awareness of his own body, with discrimination of the self. As touch plays an essential role in the child's perceptual-cognitive development, studying the tactile skills of premature infants is an ideal approach for a better understanding of the development of primitive sensory awareness.

The main hypothesis is to confirm the tactile skills of the very premature newborn in exploring the rooting reflex and then to evaluate the emergence of sensory self-awareness, by comparing the response of the rooting reflex between facilitated self-stimulation and external stimulation.

The investigators assume a difference in response in favour of a greater response of the newborn to external tactile stimulation compared to facilitated self-stimulation in favour of the distinction between self and non-self showing the emergence of a sensory awareness of self in the preterm newborn.

The study of the specific sensory of the premature newborn is part of the continuum of developmental care, and is part of an approach to improving the care delivered in neonatology with the aim of encouraging the best neurological development.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children born prematurely between 28 and 37 weeks of amenorrhoea, aged at least 3 days.

Exclusion Criteria: Premature newborns with :

• respiratory assistance (invasive or non-invasive ventilation)
• malformative syndrome
• a genetic syndrome
• neurological damage such as stage III or IV intraventricular haemorrhage or periventricular leukomalacia,
• sedative treatment: morphine, clonidine
• aminergic treatment
• acute pathology: shock, sepsis, acute cardiac failure, acute respiratory failure, etc.