Comparison of Gross Body Movements during Sleep between Normally Developed Children and ADHD Children Using Video Images

In recent years, it is known that childhood behavioral disorders are related to sleep quality. Thus it is important to monitor the childhood sleep to monitor their normal develop. It is said that there is a tight relationship between sleep quality and body movements, especially gross body movements (GMs). Thus, this study focused on the relationship to sleep quality and GMs. Hence, we investigated the GMs measurement technique using video analysis. We can measure the GMs in noninvasive and non-contact way by using this technique. We applied this technique for comparison of GMs during sleep between normally developed children and children with ADHD. We calculated the rate of body movement and rest duration in each sleep stage by video analysis. As the result, children with ADHD did not have inhibition of GMs in SWS (Slow Wave Sleep). Especially in Stage 3, there were significant differences in the rate of GMs. In addition, rest duration in children with ADHD was shorter than in the control children in Stage 2, Stage 3, Stage 4, and REM. This findings show the possibility that degree of childhood development could be assessed by this technique.