The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) environment is filled with stimuli that can be harmful to the neurodevelopment of newborns. The immaturity of the central nervous system (CNS), combined with vulnerability and exposure to potential hypoxic and ischemic events, increases neonatal morbidity and mortality. Early stimulation consists of sensory and motor techniques tailored to the specific age range of newborns, promoting greater interaction with their environment.

This study aims to analyze the physiological effects of multisensory (olfactory, auditory, and gustatory) and tactile-kinesthetic stimulation in newborns admitted to the NICU.

An experimental, interventional, randomized controlled study was conducted involving 20 newborns with a corrected gestational age (CGA) between 33 weeks and 6 days and 41 weeks and 6 days, admitted to a NICU from December 2024 to January 2025. The intervention group received multisensory stimuli followed by tactile-kinesthetic stimulation, while the control group was monitored for 10 minutes without interventions. Data on heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), oxygen saturation (SpO2), and behavior were collected and assessed using the Brazelton Scale.

The results showed an 8.3% increase in HR in the control group, without statistical significance, while the intervention group showed a significant 9.3% reduction in HR. No significant differences were observed in RR, SpO2, and Brazelton scores between the groups (p > 0.05). Percentage variations were also reported.

Multisensory and tactile-kinesthetic stimulation reduced HR, leading to decreased pain perception and inhibition of the endocrine-metabolic stress response in newborns. In the long term, varied sensory stimulation fosters new neuronal connections in the developing brain, aiding in the acquisition of future skills and the process of speech and language learning. Therefore, implementing stimulation protocols in NICUs is recommended to support neurodevelopment.

Implementing multisensory and tactile-kinesthetic stimulation in NICUs supports neurodevelopment, reduces stress responses, enhances neural plasticity, and may improve cognitive, motor, and language development in newborns.