arousal level

arousal level

An individual's degree of alertness or responsiveness to stimuli. The level of arousal is important in testing a newborn's behavior. These levels are deep sleep; sleep with rapid eye movements; drowsy state; a quiet, alert state; an awake and active state; and a state of active, intense crying. The infant is capable of the most responsive and complex interactions with the environment in the quiet and alert states. See: psychomotor and physical development of infant