Fetal/Infant Development Lab

 

Dr. Fifer's research interests focus on fetal and neonatal behavioral, perceptual and autonomic nervous system development. Current investigations in his laboratory include studies of fetal, newborn and premature infant neurobehavioral responses to sensory stimulation, infant sleep physiology , and the effects of in utero experience on later neurodevelopment. He has active collaborations within the Departments of Psychiatry, Obstetrics, Pediatrics, Behavioral Medicine at Columbia and the Indian Health Service that focus on the effects of maternal anxiety, depression and alcohol use during pregnancy on the developing fetus, the relationship between diet and sleep in premature infants, development of autonomic control, and assessment of risk for neurological disorders including Sudden Infant Death and Autism. He and his colleagues are currently involved in large fetal/infant cohort studies New York City , in North and South Dakota , and in Cape Town , South Africa .

Selected Publications:

Fifer, W.P., Ten Fingers, S., Youngman, M., Gomez-Gribben, E., Myers, M.M. Effects of alcohol and smoking during pregnancy on infant autonomic control. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, in press.

Myers, M.M., Gomez-Gribben, E., Smith, K.S., Tseng, A., Fifer, W.P. (2006) Developmental changes in infant heart rate responses to head-up tilting. Acta Paediatrica, 95: 77-81.

Grieve P.G., Myers, M.M., Stark, R.I., Housman, S., Fifer, W.P. (2005) Topographic localization of electrocortical activation in newborn and two-four month old infants in response to head-up tilting. Acta Paediatrica, 94: 1756-63.

Sahni, R., Schulze, K.F., Kashyap S., Ohira-Kist K., Fifer W.P., Myers M.M. (2005) Sleeping position and electrocortical activity in low birth weight infants. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed, 90: 311-5.

Kinney, H.C., Myers, M.M., Belliveau, B.A., Randall, L.L., Trachtenberg, F.L., Fifer, W.P. (2005) Subclinical Cardio-respiratory Dysfunction in the SIDS Associated with Arcuate Nucleus Hypoplasia and Serotonergic Brainstem Abnormalities: A Case Report. Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology, 64: 689-694.

Fifer, W.P., Myers, M., Sahni, R., Kashyap, S., Stark, R., Schulze, K. (2005) Interactions Between Sleep Position and Feeding on Cardiorespiratory Activity in Preterm Infants. Developmental Psychobiology, 47: 288-296.

Monk, C., Sloan, R.P., Myers, M.M., Ellman, L., Werner, E., Jeon, J., Tager, F. & Fifer, W.P. (2004) Fetal heart rate reactivity differs by women?s psychiatric status: An early marker for developmental risk? Journal of American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 43(3):283-290.

Grieve, P.G., Emerson, R.G., Fifer, W.P., Isler, J.R. & Stark, R.I. (2003) Spatial correlation of the infant and adult electroencephalogram. Clinical Neurophysiology, 114:1594-608.

Fifer, W.P. and Moon, C. (2003) Prenatal development. In: A. Slater and G. Bremner (Eds.). An Introduction to Developmental Psychology, Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishers Ltd., 95-114.

Monk, C., Myers, M.M., Sloan, R.P., Ellman, L. & Fifer, W.P. (2003) Effects of women?s stress-elicited physiological activity and chronic anxiety on fetal heart rate. Journal of Development and Behavioral Pediatrics, 24: 32-38.

Sahni, R., Saluja, A.S., Kashyap, S., Ohira-Kist, K., Fifer, W.P., Myers, M.M. & Schulze, K. (2002) Quality of diet, body position and time after feeding influence behavioral states in low birth weight infants. Pediatric Research, 52: 399-404.

Fifer, W.P., and Myers, M.M. (2002) Sudden fetal and infant deaths; shared characteristics and distinctive features. Seminars in Perinatology, 26: 89-96.

Fifer, W.P., Monk, C., & Grose-Fifer, J. (2001) Prenatal development and risk. In G. Bremner, and A. Fogel (Eds). Blackwell Handbook of Infancy Research, 521-557.

Monk, C., Fifer, W.P., Sloan, R.P, Myers, M.M., Bagiella, E., & Hurtado, A.
(2001) Physiologic responses to cognitive challenge during pregnancy: Effects of task and repeat testing. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 40: 149-59.

Moon, C. & Fifer, W.P. (2000) Evidence of trans natal auditory learning. Journal of Perinatology, 20: S37-S44.

Sahni, R., Schulze, K.F., Kashyap, S., Ohira-Kist, K., Fifer, W.P., & Myers, M.M. (2000) Maturational changes in heart rate and heart rate variability in low birth weight infants. Developmental Psychobiology, 37: 73-81.

Monk, C., Fifer, W.P., Sloan, R.P., Myers, M.M., Trien, L., & Hurtado, A. (2000) Maternal stress responses and anxiety during pregnancy: Effects on fetal heart rate. Developmental Psychobiology, 36: 67-77.

Fifer, W.P., Greene, M., Hurtado, A., & Myers, M.M. (1999) Cardiorespiratory responses to bidirectional tilts in infants. Early Human Development, 55: 265-279.

Sahni, R., Schulze, K.F., Kashyap, S., Ohira-Kist, K., Fifer, W.P, & Myers, M.M. (1999) Postural differences in cardiac dynamics during quiet and active sleep in low birthweight infants. Acta Paediatrica, 88:1396-401.

Sahni, R., Schulze, K., Kashyap, S., Ohira-Kist, K., Myers, M.M. & Fifer, W.P. (1999) Body position, sleep states, and cardiorespiratory activity in developing low-birth weight infants. Early Human Development, 54:197-206.

Krasnegor, N.A., Fifer, W.P., Maulik, D., McNellis, D., Romero, R., &
Smotherman, W.P. (1998). Fetal behavioral development: A transdisciplinary perspective for assessing fetal well-being and predicting outcome. Prenatal and Neonatal Medicine, 3:185-188.