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Schäfer L, Köppel C, Kreßner-Kiel D, Schwerdtfeger S, Michael M, Weidner K, Croy I. The scent of cuteness-neural signatures of infant body odors. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2024; 19:nsae038. [PMID: 38850226 PMCID: PMC11192622 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsae038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The smell of the own baby is a salient cue for human kin recognition and bonding. We hypothesized that infant body odors function like other cues of the Kindchenschema by recruiting neural circuits of pleasure and reward. In two functional magnetic resonance imaging studies, we presented infantile and post-pubertal body odors to nulliparae and mothers (N = 78). All body odors increased blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) response and functional connectivity in circuits related to olfactory perception, pleasure and reward. Neural activation strength in pleasure and reward areas positively correlated with perceptual ratings across all participants. Compared to body odor of post-pubertal children, infant body odors specifically enhanced BOLD signal and functional connectivity in reward and pleasure circuits, suggesting that infantile body odors prime the brain for prosocial interaction. This supports the idea that infant body odors are part of the Kindchenschema. The additional observation of functional connectivity being related to maternal and kin state speaks for experience-dependent priming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Schäfer
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TUD Dresden University of Technology, Fetscherstraße 74, Dresden 01307, Germany
| | - Carina Köppel
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TUD Dresden University of Technology, Fetscherstraße 74, Dresden 01307, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin 12203, Germany
| | - Denise Kreßner-Kiel
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TUD Dresden University of Technology, Fetscherstraße 74, Dresden 01307, Germany
| | - Sarah Schwerdtfeger
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TUD Dresden University of Technology, Fetscherstraße 74, Dresden 01307, Germany
| | - Marie Michael
- Max Planck School of Cognition, Leipzig 04103, Germany
- Department of Comparative Cultural Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthroplogy, Leipzig 04103, Germany
| | - Kerstin Weidner
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TUD Dresden University of Technology, Fetscherstraße 74, Dresden 01307, Germany
| | - Ilona Croy
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TUD Dresden University of Technology, Fetscherstraße 74, Dresden 01307, Germany
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Jena 07737, Germany
- German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Site Jena-Magdeburg-Halle 07737, Germany
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Bortolini T, Laport MC, Latgé-Tovar S, Fischer R, Zahn R, de Oliveira-Souza R, Moll J. The extended neural architecture of human attachment: An fMRI coordinate-based meta-analysis of affiliative studies. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 159:105584. [PMID: 38367888 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
Functional imaging studies and clinical evidence indicate that cortical areas relevant to social cognition are closely integrated with evolutionarily conserved basal forebrain structures and neighboring regions, enabling human attachment and affiliative emotions. The neural circuitry of human affiliation is continually being unraveled as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) becomes increasingly prevalent, with studies examining human brain responses to various attachment figures. However, previous fMRI meta-analyses on affiliative stimuli have encountered challenges, such as low statistical power and the absence of robustness measures. To address these issues, we conducted an exhaustive coordinate-based meta-analysis of 79 fMRI studies, focusing on personalized affiliative stimuli, including one's infants, family, romantic partners, and friends. We employed complementary coordinate-based analyses (Activation Likelihood Estimation and Signed Differential Mapping) and conducted a robustness analysis of the results. Findings revealed cluster convergence in cortical and subcortical structures related to reward and motivation, salience detection, social bonding, and cognition. Our study thoroughly explores the neural correlates underpinning affiliative responses, effectively overcoming the limitations noted in previous meta-analyses. It provides an extensive view of the neural substrates associated with affiliative stimuli, illuminating the intricate interaction between cortical and subcortical regions. Our findings significantly contribute to understanding the neurobiology of human affiliation, expanding the known human attachment circuitry beyond the traditional basal forebrain regions observed in other mammals to include uniquely human isocortical structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago Bortolini
- Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroinformatics Unit, The D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; IDOR - Pioneer Science Initiative, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Maria Clara Laport
- Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroinformatics Unit, The D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Sofia Latgé-Tovar
- Institute of Psychiatry, Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Ronald Fischer
- Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroinformatics Unit, The D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; IDOR - Pioneer Science Initiative, São Paulo, Brazil; School of Psychology, PO Box 600, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6021, New Zealand
| | - Roland Zahn
- Centre for Affective Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Ricardo de Oliveira-Souza
- Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroinformatics Unit, The D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; The Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Jorge Moll
- Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroinformatics Unit, The D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; IDOR - Pioneer Science Initiative, São Paulo, Brazil
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Hood R, Zabatiero J, Silva D, Zubrick SR, Straker L. "It helps and it doesn't help": maternal perspectives on how the use of smartphones and tablet computers influences parent-infant attachment. ERGONOMICS 2024; 67:148-167. [PMID: 37154796 DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2023.2212148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
As families increase their use of mobile touch screen devices (smartphones and tablet computers), there is potential for this use to influence parent-child interactions required to form a secure attachment during infancy, and thus future child developmental outcomes. Thirty families of infants (aged 9-15 months) were interviewed to explore how parents and infants use these devices, and how device use influenced parents' thoughts, feelings and behaviours towards their infant and other family interactions. Two-thirds of infants were routinely involved in family video calls and one-third used devices for other purposes. Parent and/or child device use served to both enhance connection and increase distraction between parents and infants and between other family members. Mechanisms for these influences are discussed. The findings highlight a new opportunity for how hardware and software should be designed and used to maximise benefits and reduce detriments of device use to optimise parent-infant attachment and child development.Practitioner Summary: Many families with infants regularly use smartphones and tablet computers. This qualitative study found that how devices were used either enhanced or disrupted feelings of parent-infant attachment. Practitioners should be aware of the potential beneficial and detrimental impacts of device use among families given implications for attachment and future child development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Hood
- School of Allied Health, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Juliana Zabatiero
- School of Allied Health, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Desiree Silva
- Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, Australia
- School of Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
- School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia
| | - Stephen R Zubrick
- Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, Australia
- School of Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Leon Straker
- School of Allied Health, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child, Brisbane, Australia
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Minagawa Y, Hata M, Yamamoto E, Tsuzuki D, Morimoto S. Inter-brain synchrony during mother-infant interactive parenting in 3-4-month-old infants with and without an elevated likelihood of autism spectrum disorder. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:11609-11622. [PMID: 37885119 PMCID: PMC10724871 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal bonding for mammalian infants is critical for their survival. Additionally, it is important for human infants' development into social creatures. However, despite the ample neurobiological evidence of attachment for the mother's brain, the interplay of this system in infants is poorly understood. We aimed to identify the neural substrates of synchrony in mothers and infants under three interactive conditions and compare the differences between groups with (n = 16) and without (n = 71) an elevated likelihood of autism spectrum disorder by examining the inter-brain synchrony between mothers and their 3-4-month-old infants. Mother-infant hyperscanning with functional near-infrared spectroscopy was performed during breastfeeding and while each of the mother and experimenter was holding the infants. The results showed almost no group differences, with both groups demonstrating the strongest inter-brain coupling for breastfeeding. The cerebral foci underlying these couplings differed between mothers and infants: the ventral prefrontal cortex, focusing on the right orbitofrontal cortex, in the mother and the left temporoparietal junction in the infant were chiefly involved in connecting the two brains. Furthermore, these synchronizations revealed many significant correlations with behavioral measures, including subsequent language development. The maternal reward-motivational system and the infant's elementary mentalization system seem to underlie mother-infant coupling during breastfeeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuyo Minagawa
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Letters, Keio University, 4-1-1 Hiyoshi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama 223-8521, Japan
- Human Biology-Microbiome-Quantum Research Center (WPI-Bio2Q), Keio University, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
- Center for Advanced Research of Logic and Sensibility, Global Research Institute, Keio University, 2-15-45 Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8345, Japan
| | - Masahiro Hata
- Center for Advanced Research of Logic and Sensibility, Global Research Institute, Keio University, 2-15-45 Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8345, Japan
| | - Eriko Yamamoto
- Center for Advanced Research of Logic and Sensibility, Global Research Institute, Keio University, 2-15-45 Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8345, Japan
| | - Daisuke Tsuzuki
- Department of Information Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Kochi University, 2-5-1 Akebono-cho, kochi-shi, Kochi 780-8072, Japan
| | - Satoshi Morimoto
- Center for Advanced Research of Logic and Sensibility, Global Research Institute, Keio University, 2-15-45 Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8345, Japan
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Shimon-Raz O, Yeshurun Y, Ulmer-Yaniv A, Levinkron A, Salomon R, Feldman R. Attachment Reminders Trigger Widespread Synchrony across Multiple Brains. J Neurosci 2023; 43:7213-7225. [PMID: 37813569 PMCID: PMC10601370 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0026-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Infant stimuli elicit widespread neural and behavioral response in human adults, and such massive allocation of resources attests to the evolutionary significance of the primary attachment. Here, we examined whether attachment reminders also trigger cross-brain concordance and generate greater neural uniformity, as indicated by intersubject correlation. Human mothers were imaged twice in oxytocin/placebo administration design, and stimuli included four ecological videos of a standard unfamiliar mother and infant: two infant/mother alone (Alone) and two mother-infant dyadic contexts (Social). Theory-driven analysis measured cross-brain synchrony in preregistered nodes of the parental caregiving network (PCN), which integrates subcortical structures underpinning mammalian mothering with cortical areas implicated in simulation, mentalization, and emotion regulation, and data-driven analysis assessed brain-wide concordance using whole-brain parcellation. Results demonstrated widespread cross-brain synchrony in both the PCN and across the neuroaxis, from primary sensory/somatosensory areas, through insular-cingulate regions, to temporal and prefrontal cortices. The Social context yielded significantly more cross-brain concordance, with PCNs striatum, parahippocampal gyrus, superior temporal sulcus, ACC, and PFC displaying cross-brain synchrony only to mother-infant social cues. Moment-by-moment fluctuations in mother-infant social synchrony, ranging from episodes of low synchrony to tightly coordinated positive bouts, were tracked online by cross-brain concordance in the preregistered ACC. Findings indicate that social attachment stimuli, representing evolutionary-salient universal cues that require no verbal narrative, trigger substantial interbrain concordance and suggest that the mother-infant bond, an icon standing at the heart of human civilization, may function to glue brains into a unified experience and bind humans into social groups.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Infant stimuli elicit widespread neural response in human adults, attesting to their evolutionary significance, but do they also trigger cross-brain concordance and induce neural uniformity among perceivers? We measured cross-brain synchrony to ecological mother-infant videos. We used theory-driven analysis, measuring cross-brain concordance in the parenting network, and data-driven analysis, assessing brain-wide concordance using whole-brain parcellation. Attachment cues triggered widespread cross-brain concordance in both the parenting network and across the neuroaxis. Moment-by-moment fluctuations in behavioral synchrony were tracked online by cross-brain variability in ACC. Attachment reminders bind humans' brains into a unitary experience and stimuli characterized by social synchrony enhance neural similarity among participants, describing one mechanism by which attachment bonds provide the neural template for the consolidation of social groups.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yaara Yeshurun
- School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 69978, Israel
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 69978, Israel
| | | | - Ayelet Levinkron
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 69978, Israel
| | - Roy Salomon
- Department of Cognitive Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, 3498838, Israel
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Zhang Y, Rong Y, Wei P. Mothers exhibit higher neural activity in gaining rewards for their children than for themselves. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2023; 18:nsad048. [PMID: 37702293 PMCID: PMC10558201 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsad048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Are people willing to exert greater effort to obtain rewards for their children than they are for themselves? Although previous studies have demonstrated that social distance influences neural responses to altruistic reward processing, the distinction between winning rewards for oneself and winning them for one's child is unclear. In the present study, a group of 31 mothers performed a monetary incentive delay task in which cue-induced reward anticipations of winning a reward for themselves, their children and donation to a charity program were manipulated trial-wise, followed by performance-contingent feedback. Behaviorally, the anticipation of winning a reward for their children accelerated participants' responses. Importantly, the electroencephalogram results revealed that across the reward anticipation and consumption phases, the child condition elicited comparable or higher brain responses of participants than the self condition did. The source localization results showed that participants' reward anticipations for their children were associated with more activation in the social brain regions, compared to winning a reward for themselves or a charity donation. Overall, these findings advance our understanding of the neural mechanisms of altruistic reward processing and suggest that the priority of winning a reward for one's child may transcend the limits of the self-advantage effect in reward processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Learning and Cognition, School of Psychology, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Yachao Rong
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Learning and Cognition, School of Psychology, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Ping Wei
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Learning and Cognition, School of Psychology, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
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Powers S, Han X, Martinez J, Dufford AJ, Metz TD, Yeh T, Kim P. Cannabis use during pregnancy and hemodynamic responses to infant cues in pregnancy: an exploratory study. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1180947. [PMID: 37743996 PMCID: PMC10512021 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1180947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Cannabis is one of the most commonly used substances during pregnancy and has the potential to negatively impact parent-infant relationships. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) response to infant cues during pregnancy has been associated with subsequent positive parenting behaviors. However, PFC activation is altered in individuals who use cannabis. As the potency of cannabis has changed over the years, little is known about the specific role of cannabis use on gestational parent brain responses to infant cues. Materials and methods Using functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) in the second trimester of pregnancy, we measured hemodynamic responses to an infant cry task and an infant faces task among individuals who were using cannabis (N = 14) and compared them with those who were not using cannabis (N = 45). For the infant cry task, pregnant individuals listened to cry sounds and matched white noise. For the infant faces task, they viewed happy, sad, and neutral faces. Results There was no significant difference between the two groups after adjusting for multiple comparisons. Without adjusting for multiple comparisons, we found preliminary evidence for the differences in the dorsomedial PFC associated with heightened response to infant cry among individuals who use cannabis. The groups were also different in the dorsolateral PFC associated with decreased response to infant sad faces among individuals who use cannabis. Discussion Our preliminary data suggests that cannabis use during pregnancy was associated with brain activation in the regions involved in the emotional regulation and information processes. However, the results did not survive after adjustment for multiple comparisons, thus future research with larger sample sizes is needed to confirm potential differences in brain function among cannabis-using pregnant individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon Powers
- University of Denver, Psychology, Denver, CO, United States
| | - Xu Han
- University of Colorado, Computer Science, Boulder, CO, United States
| | | | - Alexander John Dufford
- Department of Medical Social Sciences and Institute for Innovations in Developmental Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Torri D. Metz
- University of Utah Health, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Tom Yeh
- University of Colorado, Computer Science, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Pilyoung Kim
- University of Denver, Psychology, Denver, CO, United States
- Department of Psychology, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea
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Bornstein MH, Esposito G. Coregulation: A Multilevel Approach via Biology and Behavior. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 10:1323. [PMID: 37628322 PMCID: PMC10453544 DOI: 10.3390/children10081323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Revised: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
In this article, we explore the concept of coregulation, which encompasses the mutual adaptation between partners in response to one another's biology and behavior. Coregulation operates at both biological (hormonal and nervous system) and behavioral (affective and cognitive) levels and plays a crucial role in the development of self-regulation. Coregulation extends beyond the actions of individuals in a dyad and involves interactive contributions of both partners. We use as an example parent-child coregulation, which is pervasive and expected, as it emerges from shared genetic relatedness, cohabitation, continuous interaction, and the influence of common factors like culture, which facilitate interpersonal coregulation. We also highlight the emerging field of neural attunement, which investigates the coordination of brain-based neural activities between individuals, particularly in social interactions. Understanding the mechanisms and significance of neural attunement adds a new dimension to our understanding of coregulation and its implications for parent-child relationships and child development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc H. Bornstein
- Child and Family Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Gianluca Esposito
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, 38068 Trento, Italy;
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Villard C, Dary Z, Léonard J, Medina Villalon S, Carron R, Makhalova J, Lagarde S, Lopez C, Bartolomei F. The origin of pleasant sensations: Insight from direct electrical brain stimulation. Cortex 2023; 164:1-10. [PMID: 37146544 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2023.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Research into the neuroanatomical basis of emotions has resulted in a plethora of studies over the last twenty years. However, studies about positive emotions and pleasant sensations remain rare and their anatomical-functional bases are less understood than that of negative emotions. Pleasant sensations can be evoked by electrical brain stimulations (EBS) during stereotactic electroencephalography (SEEG) performed for pre-surgical exploration in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 10 106 EBS performed in 329 patients implanted with SEEG in our epileptology department. We found that 13 EBS in 9 different patients evoked pleasant sensations (.60% of all responses). By contrast we collected 111 emotional responses of negative valence (i.e., 5.13% of all responses). EBS evoking pleasant sensations were applied at 50 Hz with an average intensity of 1.4 ± .55 mA (range .5-2 mA). Pleasant sensations were reported by nine patients of which three patients presented responses to several EBS. We found a male predominance among the patients reporting pleasant sensations and a prominent role of the right cerebral hemisphere. Results show the preponderant role of the dorsal anterior insula and amygdala in the occurrence of pleasant sensations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cécile Villard
- APHM, Timone Hospital, Epileptology Department, Marseille, France.
| | - Zoé Dary
- Aix Marseille University, CNRS, LNC, FR3C, Marseille, France.
| | - Jacques Léonard
- Aix Marseille University, CNRS, LNC, FR3C, Marseille, France.
| | - Samuel Medina Villalon
- APHM, Timone Hospital, Epileptology Department, Marseille, France; Aix Marseille University, Inserm, INS, Inst Neurosci Syst, Marseille, France.
| | - Romain Carron
- APHM, Timone Hospital, Functional Neurosurgery Department, Marseille, France.
| | - Julia Makhalova
- APHM, Timone Hospital, Epileptology Department, Marseille, France; Aix Marseille University, Inserm, INS, Inst Neurosci Syst, Marseille, France.
| | - Stanislas Lagarde
- APHM, Timone Hospital, Epileptology Department, Marseille, France; Aix Marseille University, Inserm, INS, Inst Neurosci Syst, Marseille, France.
| | | | - Fabrice Bartolomei
- APHM, Timone Hospital, Epileptology Department, Marseille, France; Aix Marseille University, Inserm, INS, Inst Neurosci Syst, Marseille, France.
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Vickers BD, Seidler RD, Stansfield RB, Weissman DH, Preston SD. Altruistic responses to the most vulnerable involve sensorimotor processes. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1140986. [PMID: 36970269 PMCID: PMC10036353 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1140986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
IntroductionWhy do people help strangers? Prior research suggests that empathy motivates bystanders to respond to victims in distress. However, this work has revealed relatively little about the role of the motor system in human altruism, even though altruism is thought to have originated as an active, physical response to close others in immediate need. We therefore investigated whether a motor preparatory response contributes to costly helping.MethodsTo accomplish this objective, we contrasted three charity conditions that were more versus less likely to elicit an active motor response, based on the Altruistic Response Model. These conditions described charities that (1) aided neonates versus adults, (2) aided victims requiring immediate versus preparatory support, and (3) provided heroic versus nurturant aid. We hypothesized that observing neonates in immediate need would elicit stronger brain activation in motor-preparatory regions.ResultsConsistent with an evolutionary, caregiving-based theory of altruism, participants donated the most to charities that provided neonates with immediate, nurturant aid. Critically, this three-way donation interaction was associated with increased BOLD signal and gray matter volume in motor-preparatory regions, which we identified in an independent motor retrieval task.DiscussionThese findings advance the field of altruism by shifting the spotlight from passive emotional states toward action processes that evolved to protect the most vulnerable members of our group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian D. Vickers
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Rachael D. Seidler
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- University of Michigan School of Kinesiology, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - R. Brent Stansfield
- Department of Medical Education, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Daniel H. Weissman
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Stephanie D. Preston
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- *Correspondence: Stephanie D. Preston,
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Diaz-Rojas F, Matsunaga M, Tanaka Y, Kikusui T, Mogi K, Nagasawa M, Asano K, Abe N, Myowa M. Development of the Paternal Brain in Humans throughout Pregnancy. J Cogn Neurosci 2023; 35:396-420. [PMID: 36603042 DOI: 10.1162/jocn_a_01953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies have demonstrated that paternal caregiving behaviors are reliant on neural pathways similar to those supporting maternal care. Interestingly, a greater variability exists in parental phenotypes in men than in women among individuals and mammalian species. However, less is known about when or how such variability emerges in men. We investigated the longitudinal changes in the neural, hormonal, and psychological bases of expression of paternal caregiving in humans throughout pregnancy and the first 4 months of the postnatal period. We measured oxytocin and testosterone, paternity-related psychological traits, and neural response to infant-interaction videos using fMRI in first-time fathers and childless men at three time points (early to mid-pregnancy, late pregnancy, and postnatal). We found that paternal-specific brain activity in prefrontal areas distinctly develops during middle-to-late pregnancy and is enhanced in the postnatal period. In addition, among fathers, the timing of the development of prefrontal brain activity was associated with specific parenting phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yukari Tanaka
- Kansai University, Suita, Japan.,Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo
| | | | | | | | - Kohei Asano
- Kyoto University, Japan.,Osaka University of Comprehensive Children Education, Japan
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12
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Zauli FM, Del Vecchio M, Russo S, Mariani V, Pelliccia V, d'Orio P, Sartori I, Avanzini P, Caruana F. The web of laughter: frontal and limbic projections of the anterior cingulate cortex revealed by cortico-cortical evoked potential from sites eliciting laughter. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20210180. [PMID: 36126672 PMCID: PMC9489285 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
According to an evolutionist approach, laughter is a multifaceted behaviour affecting social, emotional, motor and speech functions. Albeit previous studies have suggested that high-frequency electrical stimulation (HF-ES) of the pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (pACC) may induce bursts of laughter-suggesting a crucial contribution of this region to the cortical control of this behaviour-the complex nature of laughter implies that outward connections from the pACC may reach and affect a complex network of frontal and limbic regions. Here, we studied the effective connectivity of the pACC by analysing the cortico-cortical evoked potentials elicited by single-pulse electrical stimulation of pACC sites whose HF-ES elicited laughter in 12 patients. Once these regions were identified, we studied their clinical response to HF-ES, to reveal the specific functional target of pACC representation of laughter. Results reveal that the neural representation of laughter in the pACC interacts with several frontal and limbic regions, including cingulate, orbitofrontal, medial prefrontal and anterior insular regions-involved in interoception, emotion, social reward and motor behaviour. These results offer neuroscientific support to the evolutionist approach to laughter, providing a possible mechanistic explanation of the interplay between this behaviour and emotion regulation, speech production and social interactions. This article is part of the theme issue 'Cracking the laugh code: laughter through the lens of biology, psychology and neuroscience'.
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Affiliation(s)
- F M Zauli
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences 'L. Sacco', University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Department of Philosophy 'Piero Martinetti', University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- 'Claudio Munari' Epilepsy Surgery Center, ASST GOM Niguarda, Milan, Italy
| | - M Del Vecchio
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Parma, Italy
| | - S Russo
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences 'L. Sacco', University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Department of Philosophy 'Piero Martinetti', University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Allen Institute, Seattle, WA
| | - V Mariani
- Neurology and Stroke Unit Division, Circolo Hospital ASST Settelaghi University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - V Pelliccia
- 'Claudio Munari' Epilepsy Surgery Center, ASST GOM Niguarda, Milan, Italy
| | - P d'Orio
- 'Claudio Munari' Epilepsy Surgery Center, ASST GOM Niguarda, Milan, Italy
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Parma, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma
| | - I Sartori
- 'Claudio Munari' Epilepsy Surgery Center, ASST GOM Niguarda, Milan, Italy
| | - P Avanzini
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Parma, Italy
| | - F Caruana
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Parma, Italy
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13
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Routier L, Mahmoudzadeh M, Panzani M, Saadatmehr B, Gondry J, Bourel-Ponchel E, Moghimi S, Wallois F. The frontal sharp transient in newborns: An endogenous neurobiomarker concomitant to the physiological and critical transitional period around delivery? Cereb Cortex 2022; 33:4026-4039. [PMID: 36066405 PMCID: PMC10068298 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The frontal sharp transient (FST) consists of transient electrical activity recorded around the transitional period from the in to ex utero environment. Although its positive predictive value is assumed, nothing is known about its functionality or origin. The objectives were (i) to define its characteristics and (ii) to develop functional hypothesis. The 128-channels high-resolution electroencephalograms of 20 healthy newborns (37.1-41.6 weeks) were studied. The morphological and time-frequency characteristics of 418 FSTs were analyzed. The source localization of the FSTs was obtained using a finite element head model (5 layers and fontanels) and various source localization methods (distributed and dipolar). The characteristics (duration, slopes, and amplitude) and the localization of FSTs were not modulated by the huge developmental neuronal processes that occur during the very last period of gestation. The sources were located beneath the ventral median part of the frontal lobe around the interhemispheric fissure, suggesting that the olfactory bulbs and orbitofrontal cortex, essential in olfaction and the mother-infant attachment relationship, are likely candidates for the generation of FSTs. FSTs may contribute to the implementation of the functionalities of brain structures involved in the higher-order processing necessary for survival ahead of delivery, with a genetic fingerprint.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Routier
- GRAMFC, INSERM UMR-S 1105, CURS, University of Picardie Jules Verne, rue René Laennec, 80054 Amiens, Cedex 1, France.,Pediatric Clinical Neurophysiology Department, Amiens-Picardie University Hospital, 1 rond-point du Professeur Christian Cabrol, 80054 Amiens, France
| | - Mahdi Mahmoudzadeh
- GRAMFC, INSERM UMR-S 1105, CURS, University of Picardie Jules Verne, rue René Laennec, 80054 Amiens, Cedex 1, France
| | - Marine Panzani
- GRAMFC, INSERM UMR-S 1105, CURS, University of Picardie Jules Verne, rue René Laennec, 80054 Amiens, Cedex 1, France
| | - Bahar Saadatmehr
- GRAMFC, INSERM UMR-S 1105, CURS, University of Picardie Jules Verne, rue René Laennec, 80054 Amiens, Cedex 1, France
| | - Jean Gondry
- GRAMFC, INSERM UMR-S 1105, CURS, University of Picardie Jules Verne, rue René Laennec, 80054 Amiens, Cedex 1, France.,Maternity Department, Amiens-Picardie University Hospital, 1 rond-point du Professeur Christian Cabrol, 80054 Amiens, France
| | - Emilie Bourel-Ponchel
- GRAMFC, INSERM UMR-S 1105, CURS, University of Picardie Jules Verne, rue René Laennec, 80054 Amiens, Cedex 1, France.,Pediatric Clinical Neurophysiology Department, Amiens-Picardie University Hospital, 1 rond-point du Professeur Christian Cabrol, 80054 Amiens, France
| | - Sahar Moghimi
- GRAMFC, INSERM UMR-S 1105, CURS, University of Picardie Jules Verne, rue René Laennec, 80054 Amiens, Cedex 1, France
| | - Fabrice Wallois
- GRAMFC, INSERM UMR-S 1105, CURS, University of Picardie Jules Verne, rue René Laennec, 80054 Amiens, Cedex 1, France.,Pediatric Clinical Neurophysiology Department, Amiens-Picardie University Hospital, 1 rond-point du Professeur Christian Cabrol, 80054 Amiens, France
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14
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Kim P, Chen H, Dufford AJ, Tribble R, Gilmore J, Gao W. Intergenerational neuroimaging study: mother-infant functional connectivity similarity and the role of infant and maternal factors. Cereb Cortex 2022; 32:3175-3186. [PMID: 34849641 PMCID: PMC9618162 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Mother and infant neural and behavioral synchrony is important for infant development during the first years of life. Recent studies also suggest that neural risk markers associated with parental psychopathology may be transmitted across generations before symptoms emerge in offspring. There is limited understanding of how early similarity in brain functioning between 2 generations emerges. In the current study, using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we examined the functional connectivity (FC) similarity between mothers and newborns during the first 3 months after the infant's birth. We found that FC similarity between mothers and infants increased as infant age increased. Furthermore, we examined whether maternal factors such as maternal socioeconomic status and prenatal maternal depressive symptoms may influence individual differences in FC similarity. For the whole-brain level, lower maternal education levels were associated with greater FC similarity. In previous literature, lower maternal education levels were associated with suboptimal cognitive and socioemotional development. Greater FC similarity may reflect that the infants develop their FC similarity prematurely, which may suboptimally influence their developmental outcomes in later ages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilyoung Kim
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, CO 80208-3500, USA
| | - Haitao Chen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Imaging, Biomedical Imaging Research Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Alexander J Dufford
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Rebekah Tribble
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, CO 80208-3500, USA
| | - John Gilmore
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA
| | - Wei Gao
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Imaging, Biomedical Imaging Research Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
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15
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Shih HC, Kuo ME, Wu CW, Chao YP, Huang HW, Huang CM. The Neurobiological Basis of Love: A Meta-Analysis of Human Functional Neuroimaging Studies of Maternal and Passionate Love. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12070830. [PMID: 35884637 PMCID: PMC9313376 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12070830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal and passionate love are both crucial for reproduction and involve attachment behaviors with high rewards. Neurobiological studies of attachment in animal and human neuroimaging studies have suggested that the coordination of oxytocinergic and vasopressinergic pathways, coupled with the dopaminergic reward system, contribute to the formation and maintenance of maternal and passionate love. In the present study, we carried out a quantitative meta-analysis of human neuroimaging to identify common and dissociable neural substrates associated with maternal and passionate love, using the activation likelihood estimation (ALE) approach. The ALE results showed significant activation of the brain regions in the left ventral tegmental area (VTA), right thalamus, left substantia nigra, and the left putamen for maternal love, but in the bilateral VTA for passionate love. The meta-analytic neuroimaging evidence suggests the greater involvement of cognitive–affective regulation in maternal attachment and the greater desire to combine liking and wanting in romantic love behaviors. The conjunction analysis highlights the functional convergence of the VTA across the two types of human love, indicating a shared neurobiological mechanism of maternal and passionate love with evolutionary roots. Our findings suggest that the processing of both maternal and passionate love involve the affective and motivational regulation associated with dopaminergic systems; our neuroimaging evidence supports the notion that maternal and passionate love share a common evolutionary origin and neurobiological basis in the human brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsuan-Chu Shih
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300093, Taiwan; (H.-C.S.); (M.-E.K.)
- Center for Intelligent Drug Systems and Smart Bio-Devices (IDS2B), National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300093, Taiwan
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300093, Taiwan
| | - Mu-En Kuo
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300093, Taiwan; (H.-C.S.); (M.-E.K.)
- Center for Intelligent Drug Systems and Smart Bio-Devices (IDS2B), National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300093, Taiwan
| | - Changwei W. Wu
- Graduate Institute of Mind, Brain, and Consciousness, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 106052, Taiwan;
| | - Yi-Ping Chao
- Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan;
| | - Hsu-Wen Huang
- Department of Linguistics and Translation, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;
| | - Chih-Mao Huang
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300093, Taiwan; (H.-C.S.); (M.-E.K.)
- Center for Intelligent Drug Systems and Smart Bio-Devices (IDS2B), National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300093, Taiwan
- Institute of Brain Science, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +886-3571-2121
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16
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González-Mariscal G, Hoy S, Hoffman KL. Rabbit Maternal Behavior: A Perspective from Behavioral Neuroendocrinology, Animal Production, and Psychobiology. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2022; 27:131-176. [PMID: 36169815 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-97762-7_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Rabbit maternal behavior (MB) impacts meat and fur production on the farm, survival of the species in the wild, and pet welfare. Specific characteristics of rabbit MB (i.e., three-step nest building process; single, brief, daily nursing bout) have been used as models for exploring particular themes in neuroscience, like obsessive-compulsive actions, circadian rhythms, and cognition. Particular hormonal combinations regulate nest building by acting on brain regions controlling MB in other mammals. Nonhormonal factors like type of lodging and the doe's social rank influence nursing and milk production. The concurrency of pregnancy and lactation, the display of nonselective nursing, and the rapid growth of altricial young - despite a minimal effort of maternal care - have prompted the study of mother-young affiliation, neurodevelopment, and weaning. Neurohormonal mechanisms, common to other mammals, plus additional strategies (perhaps unique to rabbits) allow the efficient, adaptive display of MB in multiple settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela González-Mariscal
- Centro de Investigación en Reproducción Animal, CINVESTAV-Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, Mexico.
| | - Steffen Hoy
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Kurt L Hoffman
- Centro de Investigación en Reproducción Animal, CINVESTAV-Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, Mexico
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17
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Ma Y, Liu G, Hu Y, Long W. Adult attachment style moderates the effect of oxytocin on neural responses to infant emotional faces. Int J Psychophysiol 2021; 171:38-47. [PMID: 34919983 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2021.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Oxytocin (OT) is known for its positive influence on maternal motivation and behavior, however, the effects of intranasal oxytocin (IN-OT) on neural activity during the perception of infant stimuli are often inconsistent. These discrepancies further reveal the need to take into account individual differences in IN-OT research. The present study aims to examine whether the effects of IN-OT on maternal-related neural responses to infant faces were moderated by participants' attachment style. Using a between-groups, double-blind, placebo-controlled design, 65 nulliparous females were randomly assigned to groups receiving a single dose of 24 IU oxytocin or a placebo via intranasal administration. The neural responses of participants were assessed during a facial recognition task with joy, neutral, and crying infant faces. The results indicated that females with high levels of attachment anxiety exhibited decreased right amygdala activity in response to infant joy faces and decreased bilateral insula activity in response to infant crying faces following IN-OT. Meanwhile, IN-OT enhanced bilateral amygdala and left inferior orbital frontal cortex (OFC) activity in response to infant crying faces in females with high levels of attachment avoidance. In addition, some beneficial effects of IN-OT were also observed in females with low levels of attachment avoidance or anxiety. Our findings demonstrated that the beneficial effects of IN-OT on neural responses to infant faces may depend on individual differences in adult attachment style, thereby contributing to our understanding of the role of OT in maternal caregiving.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanxiao Ma
- School of Psychology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210024, China.
| | - Guangzeng Liu
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Yuting Hu
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Wenshuang Long
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
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18
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Georgescu T, Swart JM, Grattan DR, Brown RSE. The Prolactin Family of Hormones as Regulators of Maternal Mood and Behavior. Front Glob Womens Health 2021; 2:767467. [PMID: 34927138 PMCID: PMC8673487 DOI: 10.3389/fgwh.2021.767467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Transition into motherhood involves profound physiological and behavioral adaptations that ensure the healthy development of offspring while maintaining maternal health. Dynamic fluctuations in key hormones during pregnancy and lactation induce these maternal adaptations by acting on neural circuits in the brain. Amongst these hormonal changes, lactogenic hormones (e.g., prolactin and its pregnancy-specific homolog, placental lactogen) are important regulators of these processes, and their receptors are located in key brain regions controlling emotional behaviors and maternal responses. With pregnancy and lactation also being associated with a marked elevation in the risk of developing mood disorders, it is important to understand how hormones are normally regulating mood and behavior during this time. It seems likely that pathological changes in mood could result from aberrant expression of these hormone-induced behavioral responses. Maternal mental health problems during pregnancy and the postpartum period represent a major barrier in developing healthy mother-infant interactions which are crucial for the child's development. In this review, we will examine the role lactogenic hormones play in driving a range of specific maternal behaviors, including motivation, protectiveness, and mother-pup interactions. Understanding how these hormones collectively act in a mother's brain to promote nurturing behaviors toward offspring will ultimately assist in treatment development and contribute to safeguarding a successful pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teodora Georgescu
- Centre for Neuroendocrinology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Department of Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Judith M. Swart
- Centre for Neuroendocrinology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Department of Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - David R. Grattan
- Centre for Neuroendocrinology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Rosemary S. E. Brown
- Centre for Neuroendocrinology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Department of Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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19
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Wu Y, Veerareddy A, Lee MR, Bellucci G, Camilleri JA, Eickhoff SB, Krueger F. Understanding identification-based trust in the light of affiliative bonding: Meta-analytic neuroimaging evidence. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 131:627-641. [PMID: 34606821 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.09.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 09/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Trust is vital for establishing social relationships and is a crucial precursor for affiliative bonds. Investigations explored the neuropsychological bases of trust separately (e.g., measured by the trust game) and affiliative bonding (e.g., measured by parental care, pair-bonding, or friendship). However, direct empirical support for the shared neural mechanisms between trust and affiliative bonding is missing. Here, we conducted a coordinate-based meta-analysis on functional magnetic resonance imaging studies on interpersonal trust and affiliative bonding using the activation likelihood estimation method. Our results demonstrated that decisions to trust strangers in repeated interactions (i.e., identification-based trust) engaged the ventral striatum (vSTR, part of the mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway), likely signaling the reward anticipation. Further, both feedbacks in repeated interactions and affiliative bonding engaged the dorsal striatum (dSTR, part of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway), likely encoding learning dynamics. Our findings suggest that identification-based trust can be understood in the light of affiliative bonding, involving the mesocorticolimbic "reward" pathway (vSTR) and nigrostriatal "habit formation" pathway (dSTR) in building and sustaining social relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wu
- Department of Psychology, College of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Research in Assessment of Cognitive Impairments, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, China
| | | | - Mary R Lee
- US Department of Veteran Affairs, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Gabriele Bellucci
- Department of Computational Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Julia A Camilleri
- Institute for Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7), Research Center Jülich, Germany; Institute for Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Simon B Eickhoff
- Institute for Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7), Research Center Jülich, Germany; Institute for Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Frank Krueger
- School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany.
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20
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Tripathi A, Sato SS, Medini P. Cortico-cortical connectivity behind acoustic information transfer to mouse orbitofrontal cortex is sensitive to neuromodulation and displays local sensory gating: relevance in disorders with auditory hallucinations? J Psychiatry Neurosci 2021; 46:E371-E387. [PMID: 34043305 PMCID: PMC8327972 DOI: 10.1503/jpn.200131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Auditory hallucinations (which occur when the distinction between thoughts and perceptions is blurred) are common in psychotic disorders. The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) may be implicated, because it receives multiple inputs, including sound and affective value via the amygdala, orchestrating complex emotional responses. We aimed to elucidate the circuit and neuromodulatory mechanisms that underlie the processing of emotionally salient auditory stimuli in the OFC — mechanisms that may be involved in auditory hallucinations. METHODS We identified the cortico-cortical connectivity conveying auditory information to the mouse OFC; its sensitivity to neuromodulators involved in psychosis and postpartum depression, such as dopamine and neurosteroids; and its sensitivity to sensory gating (defective in dysexecutive syndromes). RESULTS Retrograde tracers in OFC revealed input cells in all auditory cortices. Acoustic responses were abolished by pharmacological and chemogenetic inactivation of the above-identified pathway. Acoustic responses in the OFC were reduced by local dopaminergic agonists and neurosteroids. Noticeably, apomorphine action lasted longer in the OFC than in auditory areas, and its effect was modality-specific (augmentation for visual responses), whereas neurosteroid action was sex-specific. Finally, acoustic responses in the OFC reverberated to the auditory association cortex via feedback connections and displayed sensory gating, a phenomenon of local origin, given that it was not detectable in input auditory cortices. LIMITATIONS Although our findings were for mice, connectivity and sensitivity to neuromodulation are conserved across mammals. CONCLUSION The corticocortical loop from the auditory association cortex to the OFC is dramatically sensitive to dopamine and neurosteroids. This suggests a clinically testable circuit behind auditory hallucinations. The function of OFC input–output circuits can be studied in mice with targeted and clinically relevant mutations related to their response to emotionally salient sounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anushree Tripathi
- Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden (Tripathi, Sato, Medini)
| | - Sebastian Sulis Sato
- Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden (Tripathi, Sato, Medini)
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21
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Tokay Argan M, Mersin S. Life satisfaction, life quality, and leisure satisfaction in health professionals. Perspect Psychiatr Care 2021; 57:660-666. [PMID: 33216397 DOI: 10.1111/ppc.12592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This study was aimed to determine the relationships between life satisfaction, life quality, and leisure satisfaction in health professionals. DESIGN AND METHODS The study was conducted with 498 health professionals working in a city of the Central Anatolia Region, Turkey. Data were collected using Socio-Demographic Form, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, the Short Form of World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire, and the Leisure Satisfaction Scale. FINDINGS There was a positive significant relationship between life satisfaction, life quality, and leisure satisfaction. As the level of leisure satisfaction of health professionals increases, the life satisfaction, and life quality also increase. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Rise in the level of leisure satisfaction is important to increase life satisfaction and improve life quality of health professionals. Therefore, leisure patterns and behaviors that increase leisure satisfaction should be integrated into daily lives of these professionals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehpare Tokay Argan
- Department of Tourism Guidance, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University, Bilecik, Turkey
| | - Sevinç Mersin
- Department of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University, Bilecik, Turkey
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22
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Proverbio AM. Sex differences in the social brain and in social cognition. J Neurosci Res 2021; 101:730-738. [PMID: 33608982 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Many studies have reported sex differences in empathy and social skills. In this review, several lines of empirical evidences about sex differences in functions and anatomy of social brain are discussed. The most relevant differences involve face processing, facial expression recognition, response to baby schema, the ability to see faces in things, the processing of social interactions, the response to the others' pain, interest in social information, processing of gestures and actions, biological motion, erotic, and affective stimuli. Sex differences in oxytocin-based parental response are also reported. In conclusion, the female and male brains show several neuro-functional differences in various aspects of social cognition, and especially in emotional coding, face processing, and response to baby schema. An interpretation of this sexual dimorphism is provided in the view of evolutionary psychobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Mado Proverbio
- Milan Center for Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
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23
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Alexander R, Aragón OR, Bookwala J, Cherbuin N, Gatt JM, Kahrilas IJ, Kästner N, Lawrence A, Lowe L, Morrison RG, Mueller SC, Nusslock R, Papadelis C, Polnaszek KL, Helene Richter S, Silton RL, Styliadis C. The neuroscience of positive emotions and affect: Implications for cultivating happiness and wellbeing. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 121:220-249. [PMID: 33307046 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2019] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
This review paper provides an integrative account regarding neurophysiological correlates of positive emotions and affect that cumulatively contribute to the scaffolding for happiness and wellbeing in humans and other animals. This paper reviews the associations among neurotransmitters, hormones, brain networks, and cognitive functions in the context of positive emotions and affect. Consideration of lifespan developmental perspectives are incorporated, and we also examine the impact of healthy social relationships and environmental contexts on the modulation of positive emotions and affect. The neurophysiological processes that implement positive emotions are dynamic and modifiable, and meditative practices as well as flow states that change patterns of brain function and ultimately support wellbeing are also discussed. This review is part of "The Human Affectome Project" (http://neuroqualia.org/background.php), and in order to advance a primary aim of the Human Affectome Project, we also reviewed relevant linguistic dimensions and terminology that characterizes positive emotions and wellbeing. These linguistic dimensions are discussed within the context of the neuroscience literature with the overarching goal of generating novel recommendations for advancing neuroscience research on positive emotions and wellbeing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Alexander
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, Sydney, NSW, 2031, Australia; Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Oriana R Aragón
- Yale University, 2 Hillhouse Ave, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA; Clemson University, 252 Sirrine Hall, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA
| | - Jamila Bookwala
- Department of Psychology and Program in Aging Studies, Lafayette College, 730 High Road, Easton, PA, USA
| | - Nicolas Cherbuin
- Centre for Research on Ageing, Health, and Wellbeing, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Justine M Gatt
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, Sydney, NSW, 2031, Australia; School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Randwick, Sydney, NSW, 2031, Australia
| | - Ian J Kahrilas
- Department of Psychology, Loyola University Chicago, 1032 W. Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL, 60660, USA
| | - Niklas Kästner
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Badestraße 13, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Alistair Lawrence
- Scotland's Rural College, King's Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, United Kingdom; The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, EH25 9RG, United Kingdom
| | - Leroy Lowe
- Neuroqualia (NGO), Truro, NS, B2N 1X5, Canada
| | - Robert G Morrison
- Department of Psychology, Loyola University Chicago, 1032 W. Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL, 60660, USA
| | - Sven C Mueller
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Personality, Psychological Assessment and Treatment, University of Deusto, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Robin Nusslock
- Department of Psychology and Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University, 2029 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Christos Papadelis
- Jane and John Justin Neurosciences Center, Cook Children's Health Care System, 1500 Cooper St, Fort Worth, TX, 76104, USA; Laboratory of Children's Brain Dynamics, Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kelly L Polnaszek
- Department of Psychology, Loyola University Chicago, 1032 W. Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL, 60660, USA
| | - S Helene Richter
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Badestraße 13, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Rebecca L Silton
- Department of Psychology, Loyola University Chicago, 1032 W. Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL, 60660, USA; Institute for Innovations in Developmental Sciences, Northwestern University, 633 N. Saint Clair, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
| | - Charis Styliadis
- Neuroscience of Cognition and Affection group, Lab of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 54124, Greece
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24
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Kalafatakis K, Russell GM, Ferguson SG, Grabski M, Harmer CJ, Munafò MR, Marchant N, Wilson A, Brooks JC, Thakrar J, Murphy P, Thai NJ, Lightman SL. Glucocorticoid ultradian rhythmicity differentially regulates mood and resting state networks in the human brain: A randomised controlled clinical trial. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021; 124:105096. [PMID: 33296841 PMCID: PMC7895801 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.105096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2020] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Adrenal glucocorticoid secretion into the systematic circulation is characterised by a complex rhythm, composed of the diurnal variation, formed by changes in pulse amplitude of an underlying ultradian rhythm of short duration hormonal pulses. To elucidate the potential neurobiological significance of glucocorticoid pulsatility in man, we have conducted a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, three-way crossover clinical trial on 15 healthy volunteers, investigating the impact of different glucocorticoid rhythms on measures of mood and neural activity under resting conditions by recruiting functional neuroimaging, computerised behavioural tests and ecological momentary assessments. Endogenous glucocorticoid biosynthesis was pharmacologically suppressed, and plasma levels of corticosteroid restored by hydrocortisone replacement in three different regimes, either mimicking the normal ultradian and circadian profile of the hormone, or retaining the normal circadian but abolishing the ultradian rhythm of the hormone, or by our current best oral replacement regime which results in a suboptimal circadian and ultradian rhythm. Our results indicate that changes in the temporal mode of glucocorticoid replacement impact (i) the morning levels of self-perceived vigour, fatigue and concentration, (ii) the diurnal pattern of mood variation, (iii) the within-network functional connectivity of various large-scale resting state networks of the human brain, (iv) the functional connectivity of the default-mode, salience and executive control networks with glucocorticoid-sensitive nodes of the corticolimbic system, and (v) the functional relationship between mood variation and underlying neural networks. The findings indicate that the pattern of the ultradian glucocorticoid rhythm could affect cognitive psychophysiology under non-stressful conditions and opens new pathways for our understanding on the neuropsychological effects of cortisol pulsatility with relevance to the goal of optimising glucocorticoid replacement strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Kalafatakis
- Laboratories of Integrative Neuroscience and Endocrinology, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, BS1 3NY Bristol, United Kingdom; Clinical Research and Imaging Centre, University of Bristol and University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, BS2 8DX Bristol, United Kingdom; Royal Bristol Infirmary, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, BS2 8HW Bristol, United Kingdom.
| | - Georgina M Russell
- Laboratories of Integrative Neuroscience and Endocrinology, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, BS1 3NY Bristol, United Kingdom; Royal Bristol Infirmary, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, BS2 8HW Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Stuart G Ferguson
- School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Meryem Grabski
- Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, WC1E 6BT London, United Kingdom; MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, BS8 1TU Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Catherine J Harmer
- Department of Psychiatry, Oxford University and Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, OX3 7JX Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Marcus R Munafò
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, BS8 1TU Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola Marchant
- Laboratories of Integrative Neuroscience and Endocrinology, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, BS1 3NY Bristol, United Kingdom; Royal Bristol Infirmary, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, BS2 8HW Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Aileen Wilson
- Clinical Research and Imaging Centre, University of Bristol and University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, BS2 8DX Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan C Brooks
- Clinical Research and Imaging Centre, University of Bristol and University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, BS2 8DX Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Jamini Thakrar
- Laboratories of Integrative Neuroscience and Endocrinology, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, BS1 3NY Bristol, United Kingdom; Clinical Research and Imaging Centre, University of Bristol and University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, BS2 8DX Bristol, United Kingdom; Royal Bristol Infirmary, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, BS2 8HW Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Patrick Murphy
- Laboratories of Integrative Neuroscience and Endocrinology, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, BS1 3NY Bristol, United Kingdom; Royal Bristol Infirmary, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, BS2 8HW Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Ngoc J Thai
- Clinical Research and Imaging Centre, University of Bristol and University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, BS2 8DX Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Stafford L Lightman
- Laboratories of Integrative Neuroscience and Endocrinology, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, BS1 3NY Bristol, United Kingdom; Royal Bristol Infirmary, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, BS2 8HW Bristol, United Kingdom
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25
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Major Depression and Brain Asymmetry in a Decision-Making Task with Negative and Positive Feedback. Symmetry (Basel) 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/sym12122118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Depressed patients are characterized by hypoactivity of the left and hyperactivity of the right frontal areas during the resting state. Depression is also associated with impaired decision-making, which reflects multiple cognitive, affective, and attentional processes, some of which may be lateralized. The aim of this study was to investigate brain asymmetry during a decision-making task performed in negative and positive feedback conditions in patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in comparison to healthy control participants. The electroencephalogram (EEG) was recorded from 60 MDD patients and 60 healthy participants while performing a multi-stage decision-making task. Frontal, central, and parietal alpha asymmetry were analyzed with EEGlab/ERPlab software. Evoked potential responses (ERPs) showed general lateralization suggestive of an initial right dominance developing into a more complex pattern of asymmetry across different scalp areas as information was processed. The MDD group showed impaired mood prior to performance, and decreased confidence during performance in comparison to the control group. The resting state frontal alpha asymmetry showed lateralization in the healthy group only. Task-induced alpha power and ERP P100 and P300 amplitudes were more informative biomarkers of depression during decision making. Asymmetry coefficients based on task alpha power and ERP amplitudes showed consistency in the dynamical changes during the decision-making stages. Depression was characterized by a lack of left dominance during the resting state and left hypoactivity during the task baseline and subsequent decision-making process. Findings add to understanding of the functional significance of lateralized brain processes in depression.
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26
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Karl S, Boch M, Zamansky A, van der Linden D, Wagner IC, Völter CJ, Lamm C, Huber L. Exploring the dog-human relationship by combining fMRI, eye-tracking and behavioural measures. Sci Rep 2020; 10:22273. [PMID: 33335230 PMCID: PMC7747637 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-79247-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Behavioural studies revealed that the dog-human relationship resembles the human mother-child bond, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we report the results of a multi-method approach combining fMRI (N = 17), eye-tracking (N = 15), and behavioural preference tests (N = 24) to explore the engagement of an attachment-like system in dogs seeing human faces. We presented morph videos of the caregiver, a familiar person, and a stranger showing either happy or angry facial expressions. Regardless of emotion, viewing the caregiver activated brain regions associated with emotion and attachment processing in humans. In contrast, the stranger elicited activation mainly in brain regions related to visual and motor processing, and the familiar person relatively weak activations overall. While the majority of happy stimuli led to increased activation of the caudate nucleus associated with reward processing, angry stimuli led to activations in limbic regions. Both the eye-tracking and preference test data supported the superior role of the caregiver's face and were in line with the findings from the fMRI experiment. While preliminary, these findings indicate that cutting across different levels, from brain to behaviour, can provide novel and converging insights into the engagement of the putative attachment system when dogs interact with humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Karl
- Clever Dog Lab, Comparative Cognition, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, University of Vienna, 1210, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Magdalena Boch
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Unit, Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, 1010, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Cognitive Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anna Zamansky
- Information Systems Department, University of Haifa, 3498838, Haifa, Israel
| | - Dirk van der Linden
- Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Isabella C Wagner
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Unit, Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, 1010, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christoph J Völter
- Clever Dog Lab, Comparative Cognition, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, University of Vienna, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| | - Claus Lamm
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Unit, Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, 1010, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ludwig Huber
- Clever Dog Lab, Comparative Cognition, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, University of Vienna, 1210, Vienna, Austria
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27
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Cheng B, Wang X, Zhou Y, Li J, Zhao Y, Xia S, Zuo Y, Meng Y, Deng W, Guo Y, Wang S. Regional cerebral activity abnormality in pregnant women with antenatal depression. J Affect Disord 2020; 274:381-388. [PMID: 32663967 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.05.107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2020] [Revised: 04/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antenatal depression (ATDP) is one of the most common mental disorders that occur during the antenatal period. As a serious problem in households around the world, ATDP has adverse consequences for both mothers and offspring and heavily burdens their families and society. However, until recently, the neurobiological mechanisms underlying ATDP remained unclear, which impeded early detection and intervention for this disorder. METHODS To explore the intrinsic cerebral activity alternations in ATDP, we investigated fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) differences in 20 treatment-naïve ATDP patients and 22 healthy pregnant women (HPW) using voxel-based whole-brain analysis by resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. The correlation between the regional functional abnormalities and clinical variables in ATDP patients was also examined. RESULTS Compared with HPW, ATDP patients showed increased fALFF in the left medial prefrontal cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex, as well as decreased fALFF in the bilateral orbitofrontal cortex, the right insula, the cluster covering the right ventral temporal cortex (VTC) and the parahippocampus (PHP). The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale scores of ATDP patients were negatively correlated with fALFF values in the right VTC and PHP. LIMITATIONS The study is limited by a small sample size and the fact that only antenatal maternal women in the second and third trimesters were assessed. CONCLUSION The aberrant regional functional activities of ATDP patients were mainly located within the prefrontal-limbic circuit related to multiple neural system abnormalities. This finding provides insight into the potential psychopathology of ATDP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bochao Cheng
- Department of Radiology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiuli Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, Chengdu Mental Health Center, Chengdu, China
| | - Yushan Zhou
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jinrong Li
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Yajun Zhao
- School of Sociality and Psychology, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shiyu Xia
- School of Sociality and Psychology, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yan Zuo
- Maternity Clinic, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yajing Meng
- Department of Psychiatry, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Wei Deng
- Department of Psychiatry, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yingkun Guo
- Department of Radiology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Song Wang
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
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28
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Attractiveness and neural processing of infant faces: effects of a facial abnormality but not dopamine. Physiol Behav 2020; 222:112937. [PMID: 32433919 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2020.112937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Revised: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Adults' caregiving responses toward infants may have important origins in the perception and processing of infant cues as well as the motivation to attend to these cues. Moreover, some biological processes, such as dopaminergic neurotransmission, may be crucially involved. Although infant stimuli are generally experienced as cute and rewarding, infants with a visible disability may be regarded much less favorably than others, perhaps dependent on differences in perception, motivation, and neural processing. The current study investigated effects of administered dopamine on the perceived attractiveness and neurophysiological indices of attention and processing (i.e., the P1, P2, and N170 components of the event-related potential) of infant faces with and without a cleft lip. No evidence for effects of dopamine was found, but we replicated the finding that the decreased attractiveness of infants with a cleft lip was mediated by decreased configural face processing (smaller N170 amplitudes), but not more general attentional and/or executive processing (P2). The current findings show once again the unfavorable consequences of a cleft lip, but also highlight the importance of combining and relating measures across various levels of analysis and underscore the importance of replication.
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29
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Dydynski JM. Modeling Cuteness: Moving towards a Biosemiotic Model for Understanding the Perception of Cuteness and Kindchenschema. BIOSEMIOTICS 2020; 13:223-240. [DOI: 10.1007/s12304-020-09386-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
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30
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Zhang K, Rigo P, Su X, Wang M, Chen Z, Esposito G, Putnick DL, Bornstein MH, Du X. Brain Responses to Emotional Infant Faces in New Mothers and Nulliparous Women. Sci Rep 2020; 10:9560. [PMID: 32533113 PMCID: PMC7293211 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-66511-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The experience of motherhood is one of the most salient events in a woman’s life. Motherhood is associated with a series of neurophysiological, psychological, and behavioral changes that allow women to better adapt to their new role as mothers. Infants communicate their needs and physiological states mainly through salient emotional expressions, and maternal responses to infant signals are critical for infant survival and development. In this study, we investigated the whole brain functional response to emotional infant faces in 20 new mothers and 22 nulliparous women during functional magnetic resonance imaging scans. New mothers showed higher brain activation in regions involved in infant facial expression processing and empathic and mentalizing networks than nulliparous women. Furthermore, magnitudes of the activation of the left parahippocampal gyrus and the left fusiform gyrus, recruited during facial expression processing, were positively correlated with empathic concern (EC) scores in new mothers when viewing emotional (happy-sad) faces contrasted to neutral faces. Taken together, these results indicate that the experience of being a mother affects human brain responses in visual and social cognitive brain areas and in brain areas associated with theory-of-mind related and empathic processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaihua Zhang
- Department of Electronic Science, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Plasma and Magnetic Resonance, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361000, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Department of Physics, School of Physics and Electronic Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Paola Rigo
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialisation, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Xueyun Su
- Department of Special Education, Faculty of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Mengxing Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Department of Physics, School of Physics and Electronic Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Zhong Chen
- Department of Electronic Science, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Plasma and Magnetic Resonance, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361000, China
| | - Gianluca Esposito
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Trento, Italy.,Psychology Programme, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Nanyang, Singapore
| | - Diane L Putnick
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Marc H Bornstein
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Xiaoxia Du
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Department of Physics, School of Physics and Electronic Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China.
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31
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Brady WJ, Crockett MJ, Van Bavel JJ. The MAD Model of Moral Contagion: The Role of Motivation, Attention, and Design in the Spread of Moralized Content Online. PERSPECTIVES ON PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2020; 15:978-1010. [DOI: 10.1177/1745691620917336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
With more than 3 billion users, online social networks represent an important venue for moral and political discourse and have been used to organize political revolutions, influence elections, and raise awareness of social issues. These examples rely on a common process to be effective: the ability to engage users and spread moralized content through online networks. Here, we review evidence that expressions of moral emotion play an important role in the spread of moralized content (a phenomenon we call moral contagion). Next, we propose a psychological model called the motivation, attention, and design (MAD) model to explain moral contagion. The MAD model posits that people have group-identity-based motivations to share moral-emotional content, that such content is especially likely to capture our attention, and that the design of social-media platforms amplifies our natural motivational and cognitive tendencies to spread such content. We review each component of the model (as well as interactions between components) and raise several novel, testable hypotheses that can spark progress on the scientific investigation of civic engagement and activism, political polarization, propaganda and disinformation, and other moralized behaviors in the digital age.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jay J. Van Bavel
- Department of Psychology, New York University
- Center for Neural Science, New York University
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32
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Aguirre RMH, González MH, Hernández MP, Gutiérrez CDCA, Guevara MÁ. Observing baby or sexual videos changes the functional synchronization between the prefrontal and parietal cortices in mothers in different postpartum periods. Soc Neurosci 2020; 15:489-504. [PMID: 32402224 DOI: 10.1080/17470919.2020.1761447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
During the postpartum period (PP), mothers are more sensitive to sensory stimuli related to babies and less sensitive to those with sexual significance. The processing of emotional stimuli requires synchronization among different cerebral areas. This study characterized the cortical electroencephalographic (EEG) correlation in mothers from 1½ to 3 months (PP1), 4 to 5½ months (PP2) and over 6½ months, postpartum (PP3) while observing two videos: one of a baby (BV) and one with sexual content (SV). EEGs were recorded from the frontopolar, dorsolateral and parietal cortices. All three groups rated the BV as pleasant, but only PP3 reported higher sexual arousal with the SV. While watching the BV, PP1 showed a higher correlation among all cortical areas; PP2 manifested a decreased correlation between the prefrontal and parietal cortices, likely associated with the lower emotional modulation of the BV; and PP3 presented a higher synchronization among fewer cortical areas, probably related to longer maternal experience. These cortical synchronization patterns could represent adaptive mechanisms that enable the adequate processing of baby stimuli in new mothers. These data increase our knowledge of the cerebral processes associated with distinct sensitivities to the emotional stimuli that mothers experience during the PP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa María Hidalgo Aguirre
- Laboratorio de Neuropsicología, Centro Universitario de los Valles, Universidad de Guadalajara , Ameca, México.,Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad de Guadalajara , Guadalajara, México
| | | | - Marai Pérez Hernández
- Laboratorio de Neurociencias, Centro Universitario del Norte, Universidad de Guadalajara , Guadalajara, Mexico
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33
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Trentini C, Pagani M, Lauriola M, Tambelli R. Neural Responses to Infant Emotions and Emotional Self-Awareness in Mothers and Fathers during Pregnancy. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E3314. [PMID: 32397541 PMCID: PMC7246792 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17093314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Neuroscientific research has largely investigated the neurobiological correlates of maternal and (to a much lesser extent) paternal responsiveness in the post-partum period. In contrast, much less is known about the neural processing of infant emotions during pregnancy. Twenty mothers and 19 fathers were recruited independently during the third trimester of pregnancy. High-density electroencephalography (hdEEG) was recorded while expectant parents passively viewed images representing distressed, ambiguous, happy, and neutral faces of unknown infants. Correlational analyses were performed to detect a link between neural responses to infant facial expressions and emotional self-awareness. In response to infant emotions, mothers and fathers showed similar cerebral activity in regions involved in high-order socio-affective processes. Mothers and fathers also showed different brain activity in premotor regions implicated in high-order motor control, in occipital regions involved in visuo-spatial information processing and visual mental imagery, as well as in inferior parietal regions involved in attention allocation. Low emotional self-awareness negatively correlated with activity in parietal regions subserving empathy in mothers, while it positively correlated with activity in temporal and occipital areas implicated in mentalizing and visual mental imagery in fathers. This study may enlarge knowledge on the neural response to infant emotions during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Trentini
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Marco Pagani
- Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, CNR, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Marco Lauriola
- Department of Social and Developmental Psychology, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Renata Tambelli
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
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34
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Long M, Verbeke W, Ein-Dor T, Vrtička P. A functional neuro-anatomical model of human attachment (NAMA): Insights from first- and second-person social neuroscience. Cortex 2020; 126:281-321. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2020.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Revised: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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35
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Proverbio AM, Parietti N, De Benedetto F. No other race effect (ORE) for infant face recognition: A memory task. Neuropsychologia 2020; 141:107439. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2020.107439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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36
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Mersin S, İbrahimoğlu Ö, Çağlar M, Akyol E. Compassionate love, burnout and professional commitment in nurses. J Nurs Manag 2020; 28:72-81. [PMID: 31642139 DOI: 10.1111/jonm.12892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2019] [Revised: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
AIMS To determine the effects of compassionate love on burnout and professional commitment in nurses. BACKGROUND Compassionate love as 'other-centred' love is referred to as altruistic love, unconditional love and unreciprocated love. Compassionate love has an important role among nurses in moderating burnout and increasing professional commitment. METHODS One-hundred ninety-four nurses working at two public hospitals in Turkey completed four self-report instruments: socio-demographics, the Compassionate Love Scale, the Burnout Measure-Short Version and the Nursing Professional Commitment Scale. RESULTS A statistically significant inverse relationship was found between Compassionate Love Scale and Burnout Measure-Short Version scores, while Compassionate Love Scale scores were significantly and positively associated with Nursing Professional Commitment Scale scores. Participants with children had higher Compassionate Love Scale scores while those participating in the arts had lower Burnout Measure-Short Version scores. Nurses with intensive care experience had higher Nursing Professional Commitment Scale scores. CONCLUSION There is a positive relationship between compassionate love and professional commitment, a negative relationship between compassionate love and burnout. Further research is needed to test compassionate love interventions. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT Nurse managers may use the results of this study in encouraging and rewarding acts of compassionate love towards colleagues and patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sevinç Mersin
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Department, Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University, Bilecik, Turkey
| | - Özlem İbrahimoğlu
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Nursing Department, Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University, Bilecik, Turkey
| | - Merve Çağlar
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Nursing Department, Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University, Bilecik, Turkey
| | - Eda Akyol
- Sultan Abdülhamid Han Education and Research Hospital, Sağlık Bilimleri University, İstanbul, Turkey
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Ma Y, Hu N, Liu G, Chen X. State attachment moderates the maternal-related neural responses to infant faces. Int J Psychophysiol 2019; 147:83-92. [PMID: 31756407 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2019.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2019] [Revised: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Adult attachment is particularly known for the modulating role of caregiving motivation and behavior. Although most studies consider attachment style relatively stable, it may also be affected by various situational factors, and these temporary fluctuations are related to meaningful behaviors. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, the present study aims to examine whether neural responses to infant faces are moderated by participants' state attachment. The results indicated that state attachment security was positively associated with increased inferior orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and insula activation to infant crying. State attachment anxiety was positively associated with increased insula and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) activation to infant crying as well as enhanced cuneus activation to infant joy. In contrast, state attachment avoidance was negatively associated with amygdala activity in response to both infant joy and crying as well as insula and ACC activation in response to infant joy. Moderation analysis found that the relationship between the prediction effect of state attachment avoidance on ACC activity was gradually weakened with the attenuation of participants' trait attachment avoidance. These results demonstrate that neural responses to infant faces are moderated by individual differences in state attachment, thereby demonstrating that state attachment is an effective measure to capture the variation in maternal ability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanxiao Ma
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Chongqing Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Na Hu
- School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Guangzeng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Xu Chen
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Chongqing Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Chongqing 400715, China.
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38
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Rajhans P, Goin-Kochel RP, Strathearn L, Kim S. It takes two! Exploring sex differences in parenting neurobiology and behaviour. J Neuroendocrinol 2019; 31:e12721. [PMID: 31034670 PMCID: PMC6773483 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Revised: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Parents lay the foundation for their children's socio-emotional experiences by sensitively responding to their needs. The hormonal and neurobiological changes that occur during the transition to parenthood importantly contribute to the parents' caregiving behaviour toward their children. Much research has emphasised the relationship between the mother, who is most often the primary caregiver, and her infant, with less focus on the role of fathers in child development. However, recent accounts have suggested that fathers also play an important role in promoting the health, development and psychosocial wellbeing of their children. Evidence from the behavioural literature has indicated that there are significant differences between typical mother-infant versus father-infant interactions. The current review aims to outline differences between maternal and paternal caregiving by discussing the differences in their biological mechanisms. First, we focus on the different hormones that are correlated with sensitive parenting behaviours in mothers and fathers. Next, we discuss the differences between neural bases of motherhood and fatherhood. Lastly, we discuss ways in which parental hormones, parental brain and parental exposure to infant cues interact to shape parental caregiving behaviour. In summary, this review highlights the distinct but complementary nature of maternal and paternal caregiving.
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Affiliation(s)
- Purva Rajhans
- Department of Pediatrics Psychology, Baylor College of Medicine
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
| | | | - Lane Strathearn
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
- Center for Disabilities and Development, University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital
- Corresponding Authors: Lane Strathearn, MBBS FRACP PhD, Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, 100 Hawkins Drive, 217 CDD, Iowa City, IA 52242-1011. Tel: (319) 356-7044; , Sohye Kim, PhD, Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Psychiatry, and Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, 6651 Main Street, Suite F1060.04, Houston, TX 77030. Tel: (832) 826-8065;
| | - Sohye Kim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine
- Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine
- Center for Reproductive Psychiatry, Pavilion for Women, Texas Children’s Hospital
- Corresponding Authors: Lane Strathearn, MBBS FRACP PhD, Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, 100 Hawkins Drive, 217 CDD, Iowa City, IA 52242-1011. Tel: (319) 356-7044; , Sohye Kim, PhD, Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Psychiatry, and Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, 6651 Main Street, Suite F1060.04, Houston, TX 77030. Tel: (832) 826-8065;
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Post C, Leuner B. The maternal reward system in postpartum depression. Arch Womens Ment Health 2019; 22:417-429. [PMID: 30554286 PMCID: PMC6784840 DOI: 10.1007/s00737-018-0926-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The experience of motherhood is most often emotionally positive and rewarding, but for many new mothers suffering from postpartum depression (PPD), this is not the case. Preclinical and clinical research has sought to uncover brain changes underlying PPD in order to gain a better understanding of how this disorder develops. This review focuses on the mesolimbic dopamine system, particularly the ventral tegmental area-nucleus accumbens pathway which has been implicated in the regulation of critical functions disrupted in PPD including mood, motivation, and mothering. Specifically, we discuss normative changes in the mesolimbic system during motherhood in both rodents and humans and how these are impacted in PPD. We also consider modulation of mesolimbic dopamine by the hypothalamic neuropeptide oxytocin and how oxytocin-dopamine interactions regulate mood and mothering during the postpartum period. In addition to providing an overview of reward mechanisms in PPD, our goal is to highlight open questions which warrant further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin Post
- Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, 1835 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Benedetta Leuner
- Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, 1835 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA.
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40
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Neukel C, Herpertz SC, Hinid-Attar C, Zietlow AL, Fuchs A, Moehler E, Bermpohl F, Bertsch K. Neural processing of the own child's facial emotions in mothers with a history of early life maltreatment. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2019; 269:171-181. [PMID: 30056560 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-018-0929-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Early life maltreatment (ELM) has long-lasting effects on social interaction. When interacting with their own child, women with ELM often report difficulties in parenting and show reduced maternal sensitivity. Sensitive maternal behavior requires the recognition of the child's emotional state depicted in its facial emotions. Based on previous studies, it can be expected that ELM affects the neural processing of facial emotions by altering activation patterns in parts of the brain's empathy and mentalizing networks. However, so far studies have focused on the processing of standardized, adult facial emotions. Therefore, the current study investigated the impact of ELM on the processing of one's own child's facial emotions using functional magnetic resonance imaging. To achieve this, 27 mothers with and 26 mothers without a history of ELM (all without current mental disorders and psychopharmacological treatment) took part in an emotional face recognition paradigm with happy, sad, and neutral faces of their own and an unknown primary school-aged child of the same age and sex. We found elevated activations in regions of the mentalizing (superior temporal sulcus, precuneus) and mirror neuron (inferior parietal lobule) networks as well as in the visual face processing network (cuneus, middle temporal gyrus) in mothers with ELM compared to the non-maltreated mothers in response to happy faces of their own child. This suggests a more effortful processing and cognitive empathic mentalizing of the own child's facial happiness in mothers with ELM. Future research should address whether this might indicate a compensatory recruitment of mentalizing capacities to maintain maternal sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corinne Neukel
- Department of General Psychiatry, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Voßstraße 4, 69115, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Sabine C Herpertz
- Department of General Psychiatry, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Voßstraße 4, 69115, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Catherine Hinid-Attar
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Berlin, Charité Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anna-Lena Zietlow
- Institute of Medical Psychology, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anna Fuchs
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Eva Moehler
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Felix Bermpohl
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Berlin, Charité Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany
| | - Katja Bertsch
- Department of General Psychiatry, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Voßstraße 4, 69115, Heidelberg, Germany
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41
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Rigo P, Kim P, Esposito G, Putnick DL, Venuti P, Bornstein MH. Specific maternal brain responses to their own child's face: An fMRI meta-analysis. DEVELOPMENTAL REVIEW 2019; 51:58-69. [PMID: 30872887 PMCID: PMC6411077 DOI: 10.1016/j.dr.2018.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Paola Rigo
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Division of Psychology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Pilyoung Kim
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, 2155 South Race Street, Denver, CO 80208-3500
| | - Gianluca Esposito
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
- Division of Psychology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Diane L. Putnick
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Paola Venuti
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Marc H. Bornstein
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Institute for Fiscal Studies, London, UK
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42
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Fleming AS, Kraemer GW. Molecular and Genetic Bases of Mammalian Maternal Behavior. GENDER AND THE GENOME 2019. [DOI: 10.1177/2470289719827306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Alison S. Fleming
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gary W. Kraemer
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
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43
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Neural Responses to Faces of Attachment Figures and Unfamiliar Faces: Associations With Organized and Disorganized Attachment Representations. J Nerv Ment Dis 2019; 207:112-120. [PMID: 30688832 DOI: 10.1097/nmd.0000000000000931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The neural response to faces of attachment figures compared with unfamiliar faces still remains elusive. In particular, the modulation of the neural response by the organized (secure, insecure) compared with disorganized attachment representation of the subject investigated is unknown. For the present study, 38 healthy participants (age range, 21-71 years) were recruited. Three attachment groups (secure, n = 14; insecure, n = 15; disorganized, n = 9) were assessed using the Adult Attachment Projective. The participants were shown pictures of the faces of attachment figures (romantic partner/parents) and unfamiliar faces in a blocked factorial design, using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Showing pictures of attachment figures activated parts of a neural social judgment network, important for inferring others' affective and cognitive mental states (e.g., inferior parietal lobe/superior temporal gyrus) in securely attached healthy individuals. In contrast, disorganized attached individuals with the experience of unresolved attachment trauma in their biography showed deactivations in these areas.
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44
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Paul S, Austin J, Elliott R, Ellison-Wright I, Wan MW, Drake R, Downey D, Elmadih A, Mukherjee I, Heaney L, Williams S, Abel KM. Neural pathways of maternal responding: systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Womens Ment Health 2019; 22:179-187. [PMID: 29987638 PMCID: PMC6440933 DOI: 10.1007/s00737-018-0878-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2018] [Accepted: 05/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has increasingly been employed to establish whether there is a specific brain neural network dedicated to maternal responsiveness. We undertook systematic review and meta-analysis of all studies in which healthy new mothers were exposed to visual stimuli of own versus other infants to determine the quality of evidence for a dedicated maternal neural network. Systematic literature review revealed a pattern of specific neural responses commonly induced by visual infant paradigms. Brain areas consistently reported as activated in mothers in response to own versus unknown infant included the left thalamus, bilateral pre-central gyrus, left limbic lobe, uncus, amygdala and left caudate. These regions are implicated in reward, attention, emotion processing and other core social cognitive skills. Meta-analysis, however, revealed a more limited subset of brain areas activated in mothers specifically in response to their own versus unknown infant and suggested considerable inter-study variability. Further work is needed if functional imaging is to become an objective tool for the assessment of neural pathways associated with distinct patterns of maternal care behaviour. Such a tool would be invaluable in developing biomarkers of neural activity associated with healthy maternal care and for monitoring treatment/intervention effects of costly parenting interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarika Paul
- Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Gastroenterology, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Josie Austin
- Centre for Women’s Mental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK ,School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Rebecca Elliott
- School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK ,Neuroscience and Psychiatry Unit, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | | | - Ming Wai Wan
- Centre for Women’s Mental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK ,School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Richard Drake
- School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK ,Manchester Academic Health Science Centre (MAHSC), University of Manchester, Manchester, UK ,Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Darragh Downey
- Centre for Women’s Mental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK ,School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK ,Neuroscience and Psychiatry Unit, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Alya Elmadih
- Centre for Women’s Mental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK ,School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Ipshita Mukherjee
- School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK ,Pennine Acute Hospital NHS Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Lisa Heaney
- Centre for Women’s Mental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK ,School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Steve Williams
- Manchester Academic Health Science Centre (MAHSC), University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Kathryn M. Abel
- Centre for Women’s Mental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK ,School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK ,Manchester Academic Health Science Centre (MAHSC), University of Manchester, Manchester, UK ,Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Trust, Manchester, UK
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45
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Light SN. The Heterogeneity of Empathy: Possible Treatment for Anhedonia? Front Psychiatry 2019; 10:185. [PMID: 31024355 PMCID: PMC6465569 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Traditionally, empathy has been described as a process by which an individual "tries on" the negative emotion of others (i. e., empathic concern). A corpus of empirical work has been devoted to the study of this particular form of empathy. However, in this paper, the heterogeneity model of empathy is proposed as a method for counteracting the lack of attention paid to "positive-valence empathy"-our ability to respond to the negative and positive emotion of others with appropriate positive affect. Both empathic concern and positive-valence empathy are argued to have distinguishable behavioral manifestations and at least partially distinguishable neurobiological underpinnings. The potential value of positive-valence empathy induction for therapeutic purposes is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharee N Light
- Positive Affective Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States
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46
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Matsunaga M, Tanaka Y, Myowa M. Maternal nurturing experience affects the perception and recognition of adult and infant facial expressions. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0205738. [PMID: 30352063 PMCID: PMC6198965 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0205738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2017] [Accepted: 10/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The perception and recognition of facial expressions are crucial for parenting. This study investigated whether and how maternal nurturing experience and trait anxiety influence the perception and recognition of infant and adult facial expressions. This was assessed by comparing the performance of primiparous mothers (n = 25) and non-mothers (n = 28) on an emotional face perception task. Trait anxiety was measured using the Japanese version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). We found that mothers had higher recognition accuracy for facial expressions, but only of adults, not infants. Moreover, as trait anxiety increased, so did mothers’ sensitivity in perceiving facial expressions of both infants and adults. These findings suggest that maternal nurturing experience does enhance the recognition of adult emotional expressions, and an optimal level of maternal trait anxiety may enhance mothers’ sensitivity toward infants’ and adults’ emotional signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michiko Matsunaga
- Graduate School of Education, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- * E-mail:
| | - Yukari Tanaka
- Graduate School of Education, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Masako Myowa
- Graduate School of Education, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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47
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Kim P, Dufford AJ, Tribble RC. Cortical thickness variation of the maternal brain in the first 6 months postpartum: associations with parental self-efficacy. Brain Struct Funct 2018; 223:3267-3277. [PMID: 29855765 PMCID: PMC6358213 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-018-1688-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2017] [Accepted: 02/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The postpartum period is associated with structural and functional plasticity in brain regions involved in parenting. While one study identified an increase in gray matter volume during the first 4 months among new mothers, little is known regarding the relationship between cortical thickness across postpartum months and perceived adjustment to parenthood. In this study of 39 socioeconomically diverse first-time new mothers, we examined the relations among postpartum months, cortical thickness, and parental self-efficacy. We identified a positive association between postpartum months and cortical thickness in the prefrontal cortex including the superior frontal gyrus extending into the medial frontal and orbitofrontal gyri, in the lateral occipital gyrus extending into the inferior parietal and fusiform gyri, as well as in the caudal middle frontal and precentral gyri. The relationship between cortical thickness and parental self-efficacy was specific to the prefrontal regions. These findings contribute to our understanding of the maternal brain in the first 6 months postpartum and provide evidence of a relationship between brain structure and perceived adjustment to parenthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilyoung Kim
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, 2155 South Race Street, Denver, CO, 80208-3500, USA.
| | - Alexander J Dufford
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, 2155 South Race Street, Denver, CO, 80208-3500, USA
| | - Rebekah C Tribble
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, 2155 South Race Street, Denver, CO, 80208-3500, USA
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48
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Choi EJ, Taylor MJ, Hong SB, Kim C, Yi SH. The neural correlates of attachment security in typically developing children. Brain Cogn 2018; 124:47-56. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2018.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2017] [Revised: 04/14/2018] [Accepted: 04/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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49
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Altered task-dependent functional connectivity patterns during subjective recollection experiences of episodic retrieval in postpartum women. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2018; 150:116-135. [PMID: 29544726 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2018.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2017] [Revised: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 03/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Numerous studies have suggested that postpartum women show a decline in cognitive abilities. However, to date, no study has investigated the presence of qualitative alterations in recognition memory processes in postpartum women that may lead to a decline in cognitive ability. To address this issue, we employed the Remember/Know procedure and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Behavioral results demonstrated that compared with the matched control (CTRL) group, the postpartum (PP) group endorsed "Remember" less and "Know" more to old items. A univariate analysis of fMRI data indicated lower neural activity of the subjective recollection network in the PP group than in the CTRL group. We also performed a large-scale functional connectivity multivariate pattern analysis (fcMVPA) using task-dependent time-series to detect differences in functional connectivity patterns and neural interactivity between the PP and CTRL groups. The fcMVPA results revealed that the PP group exhibited altered functional connectivity patterns from which machine learning algorithms could discriminate group membership with 94% accuracy. Collectively, these findings demonstrated that altered subjective recollection processes in the PP group during episodic memory decisions are associated with diminished neural activity and abnormal interactivity across the subjective recollection network. We believe that this is one of the first studies demonstrating qualitative alterations in recognition memory processes in postpartum women.
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50
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Császár-Nagy N, Bókkon I. Mother-newborn separation at birth in hospitals: A possible risk for neurodevelopmental disorders? Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2018; 84:337-351. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2017] [Revised: 06/23/2017] [Accepted: 08/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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