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Sclafani V, De Pascalis L, Bozicevic L, Sepe A, Ferrari PF, Murray L. Similarities and differences in the functional architecture of mother- infant communication in rhesus macaque and British mother-infant dyads. Sci Rep 2023; 13:13164. [PMID: 37574499 PMCID: PMC10423724 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39623-3] [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: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Similarly to humans, rhesus macaques engage in mother-infant face-to-face interactions. However, no previous studies have described the naturally occurring structure and development of mother-infant interactions in this population and used a comparative-developmental perspective to directly compare them to the ones reported in humans. Here, we investigate the development of infant communication, and maternal responsiveness in the two groups. We video-recorded mother-infant interactions in both groups in naturalistic settings and analysed them with the same micro-analytic coding scheme. Results show that infant social expressiveness and maternal responsiveness are similarly structured in humans and macaques. Both human and macaque mothers use specific mirroring responses to specific infant social behaviours (modified mirroring to communicative signals, enriched mirroring to affiliative gestures). However, important differences were identified in the development of infant social expressiveness, and in forms of maternal responsiveness, with vocal responses and marking behaviours being predominantly human. Results indicate a common functional architecture of mother-infant communication in humans and monkeys, and contribute to theories concerning the evolution of specific traits of human behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Sclafani
- Winnicott Research Unit, Department of Psychology, University of Reading, Reading, UK.
- College of Social Sciences, School of Psychology, University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool, Lincoln, LN6 7TS, UK.
| | - L De Pascalis
- Winnicott Research Unit, Department of Psychology, University of Reading, Reading, UK.
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
- Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
| | - L Bozicevic
- Winnicott Research Unit, Department of Psychology, University of Reading, Reading, UK
- Department of Primary Care & Mental Health, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, Merseyside, UK
| | - A Sepe
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
- Laboratory of Neuro- and Psychophysiology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven Medical School, Leuven, Belgium
| | - P F Ferrari
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
- Institut des Sciences Cognitives 'Marc Jeannerod', CNRS, Bron, and Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - L Murray
- Winnicott Research Unit, Department of Psychology, University of Reading, Reading, UK
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Hunt BW, Rayson H, Bannard C, De Pascalis L. In the mind of the beholder: The effects of familiarisation on the perception of atypical infant facial configurations. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0289057. [PMID: 37490434 PMCID: PMC10368272 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Infant facial attractiveness is an important facilitator for adult-infant caregiving behaviour. Disruption to typical infant facial configurations can, however, attenuate their perceived attractiveness, as rated by adult observers. Previous research has either focused on how ratings are affected by observer characteristics (e.g., male/female), or alterations to infant faces, either experimentally, or naturalistically induced, such as the presence of a cleft lip. Little research has however been conducted on the effects of observer experience on adult ratings of infant facial attractiveness. Such effects could inform clinical work and policies aimed at promoting positive perception of facial malformations. The present study thus explored the effects of familiarisation on how typical and atypical infant facial configurations are evaluated by adults. We recruited two groups of female participants and compared their subjective attractiveness ratings of infant faces (24 typical and 24 cleft-affected), at baseline, and at one-week post-test. Between the two assessments, one group (n = 41) underwent a week-long training phase, where they were familiarised with cleft lip/palate-related visual and informational stimuli, while the control group (n = 44) received no training. Significantly higher ratings were provided for faces of typically developing versus cleft-affected infants by both groups of participants at baseline. At post-test, this pattern of ratings was repeated in participants belonging to the control group, while familiarised participants showed an increase, compared to baseline, in their ratings of cleft-affected faces and no difference between their evaluation of the latter and that of typically developing faces. These findings extend our understanding of the observer's experience in the evaluation of infant faces, beyond the effects of the structural characteristics of the observed faces. Results also highlight familiarity as a potentially protective influence against the negative consequences of alterations to typical facial configurations, suggesting avenues for intervention in supporting adult caregivers in the context of neonatal facial malformations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin W Hunt
- Department of Psychology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Holly Rayson
- Institut des Sciences Cognitives Marc Jeannerod, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Claude Bernard, Lyon 1, France
| | - Colin Bannard
- Department of Linguistics and English Language, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Leonardo De Pascalis
- Department of Psychology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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Plonkowski AT, Breakey RWF, Read JCA, Sainsbury DCG. The Use of Eye-tracking Technology in Cleft Lip: A Literature Review. PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY-GLOBAL OPEN 2023; 11:e4980. [PMID: 37360237 PMCID: PMC10287128 DOI: 10.1097/gox.0000000000004980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Eye-tracking has become an increasingly popular research tool within the field of cleft lip and/or palate (CL+/-P). Despite this, there are no standardized protocols for conducting research. Our objective was to conduct a literature review of the methodology and outcomes of previous publications using eye-tracking in CL+/-P. Methods The PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane databases were searched to identify all articles published up to August 2022. All articles were screened by two independent reviewers. Inclusion criteria included using eye-tracking, image stimuli of CL+/-P, and outcome reporting using areas of interest (AOIs). Exclusion criteria included non-English studies, conference articles, and image stimuli of conditions other than CL+/-P. Results Forty articles were identified, and 16 met the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Thirteen studies only displayed images of individuals following cleft lip surgery with three only displaying unrepaired cleft lips. Significant variation was found in study design, particularly in the AOIs used to report gaze outcomes. Ten studies asked participants to provide an outcome score alongside eye-tracking; however, only four compared outcome data to eye-tracking data. This review is primarily limited by the minimal number of publications in this area. Conclusions Eye-tracking can be a powerful tool in evaluating appearance outcomes following CL+/-P surgery. It is currently limited by the lack of standardized research methodology and varied study design. Before future work, a replicable protocol should be developed to maximize the potential of this technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander T. Plonkowski
- From the School of Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
- Cleft Lip and Palate Service, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - R. William F. Breakey
- Cleft Lip and Palate Service, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Jenny C. A. Read
- Department of Vision Science, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - David C. G. Sainsbury
- Cleft Lip and Palate Service, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
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Terrace HS, Bigelow AE, Beebe B. Intersubjectivity and the Emergence of Words. Front Psychol 2022; 13:693139. [PMID: 35602746 PMCID: PMC9116197 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.693139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Intersubjectivity refers to two non-verbal intersubjective relations infants experience during their first year that are precursors to the emergence of words. Trevarthen, a pioneer in the study of intersubjectivity, referred to those relations as primary and secondary intersubjectivity. The former, a dyadic coordination between the infant and her caregiver, begins at birth. The latter, a triadic coordination that develops around 9 months, allows the infant and a caregiver to share attention to particular features of the environment. Secondary intersubjectivity is crucial for an infant’s ability to begin to produce words, at around 12 months. Much research on the social and cognitive origins of language has focused on secondary intersubjectivity. That is unfortunate because it neglects the fact that secondary intersubjectivity and the emergence of words are built on a foundation of primary intersubjectivity. It also ignores the evolutionary origins of intersubjectivity and its uniquely human status. That unique status explains why only humans learn words. This article seeks to address these issues by relating the literature on primary intersubjectivity, particularly research on bi-directional and contingent communication between infants and mothers, to joint attention and ultimately to words. In that context, we also discuss Hrdy’s hypothesis about the influence of alloparents on the evolution of intersubjectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Herbert S Terrace
- Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Ann E Bigelow
- Department of Psychology, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, NS, Canada
| | - Beatrice Beebe
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University Medical Center, New York City, NY, United States
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Tsuchiya S, Tsuchiya M, Momma H, Aida J, Nagatomi R, Yaegashi N, Arima T, Igarashi K. Neurodevelopmental trajectories in children with cleft lip and palate: A longitudinal study based on the Japan Environment and Children's Study. Eur J Oral Sci 2022; 130:e12857. [PMID: 35166390 DOI: 10.1111/eos.12857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P), the most prevalent congenital anomaly, is understood to negatively affect a wide range of child development. Since the concept remains controversial, because most published work is from cross-sectional studies, we examined the neurodevelopmental trajectories in participants with CL/P through a longitudinal comparison with the general population during early childhood using data from a nationwide birth cohort study in Japan. The linear mixed models for each domain of the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, third edition (ASQ-3), were used to detect differences in standardised mean scores between groups. The ASQ-3 is a general neurodevelopmental screening tool comprising communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem-solving, and personal-social domains. Participants' neurodevelopment was determined semi-annually from 6 to 36 months of age. The trajectories of standardised mean scores in each domain showed several significant differences between the control and CL/P groups, with the maximum difference at 24 months of age in the communication domain. Indeed, CL/P was associated with significantly lower scores in the communication (coefficient: -3.31, 95% CI: -5.09 to -1.14), problem-solving (coefficient: -3.13, 95% CI: -5.07 to -1.18), and personal-social domains (coefficient: -1.99, 95% CI: -3.87 to -0.11). Trajectories of ASQ-3 scores suggest neurodevelopmental delays in children with CL/P.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinobu Tsuchiya
- Department of Orthodontics and Speech Therapy for Craniofacial Anomalies, Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai, Japan
| | | | - Haruki Momma
- Department of Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Jun Aida
- Department of Oral Health Promotion, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryoichi Nagatomi
- Department of Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.,Division of Biomedical Engineering for Health & Welfare, Tohoku University Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Sendai, Japan
| | - Nobuo Yaegashi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Takahiro Arima
- Department of Informative Genetics, Environment and Genome Research Centre, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Kaoru Igarashi
- Department of Orthodontics and Speech Therapy for Craniofacial Anomalies, Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai, Japan.,Division of Craniofacial Anomalies, Tohoku University Graduate School of Dentistry, Sendai, Japan
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Negayama K, Delafield-Butt JT, Momose K, Ishijima K, Kawahara N. Comparison of Japanese and Scottish Mother-Infant Intersubjectivity: Resonance of Timing, Anticipation, and Empathy During Feeding. Front Psychol 2021; 12:724871. [PMID: 34721185 PMCID: PMC8552025 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.724871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Feeding involves communication between mothers and infants and requires precise synchrony in a special triadic relationship with the food. It is deeply related to their intersubjectivity. This study compared the development of mother-infant intersubjectivity through interactional synchrony in feeding between 11 Japanese and 10 Scottish mother-infant dyads, observed at 6 and 9 months by video. Japanese mothers were more deliberate in feeding at an earlier age, whereas Scottish mothers were significantly more coercive than Japanese mothers at an earlier age. Japanese mothers brought the spoon to infants with a pause to adjust the timing of insertion to match their infants' readiness, whereas this pause was not observed in Scottish mothers. Isomorphic mouth opening between mothers and infants was observed. This empathic maternal display is an important element of intersubjectivity in infant feeding that differed between Scottish and Japanese mothers. Scottish mothers' mouth opening always followed their infants' mouth opening, but about half of Japanese mothers preceded their infants. Further, the mouths of Scottish infants and mothers opened almost at the same time as spoon insertion. In contrast, Japanese mothers' mouth opening did not co-occur with the insertion but was close to spoon arrival, a subtle but important difference that allows for greater infant autonomy. The time structure of Scottish mother-infant interactions was simpler and more predictable at 9 months than in Japan, where the structure was more variable, likely due to a stronger regulation by Scottish mothers. In conclusion, Scottish mother-infant intersubjectivity is characterized as more maternally reactive and mother-centered, whereas Japanese mother-infant intersubjectivity is characterized as more maternally empathetic and infant-centered. Cultural differences in intersubjectivity during feeding between Japan and Scotland are further discussed in relation to triadic relationships and parenting styles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koichi Negayama
- Faculty of Human Sciences, Waseda University, Saitama, Japan
| | - Jonathan T. Delafield-Butt
- Laboratory for Innovation in Autism and Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Keiko Momose
- Faculty of Human Sciences, Waseda University, Saitama, Japan
| | - Konomi Ishijima
- Department of Child Studies, Shiraume Gakuen University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Noriko Kawahara
- Faculty of Home Economics, Kyoritsu Women’s University, Tokyo, Japan
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Abstract
Ten years ago, Perspectives in Psychological Science published the Mirror Neuron Forum, in which authors debated the role of mirror neurons in action understanding, speech, imitation, and autism and asked whether mirror neurons are acquired through visual-motor learning. Subsequent research on these themes has made significant advances, which should encourage further, more systematic research. For action understanding, multivoxel pattern analysis, patient studies, and brain stimulation suggest that mirror-neuron brain areas contribute to low-level processing of observed actions (e.g., distinguishing types of grip) but not to high-level action interpretation (e.g., inferring actors’ intentions). In the area of speech perception, although it remains unclear whether mirror neurons play a specific, causal role in speech perception, there is compelling evidence for the involvement of the motor system in the discrimination of speech in perceptually noisy conditions. For imitation, there is strong evidence from patient, brain-stimulation, and brain-imaging studies that mirror-neuron brain areas play a causal role in copying of body movement topography. In the area of autism, studies using behavioral and neurological measures have tried and failed to find evidence supporting the “broken-mirror theory” of autism. Furthermore, research on the origin of mirror neurons has confirmed the importance of domain-general visual-motor associative learning rather than canalized visual-motor learning, or motor learning alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Heyes
- All Souls College, University of Oxford.,Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford
| | - Caroline Catmur
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London
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Abstract
The great majority of children with neurodevelopmental challenges do not get specific intervention until after their second birthday. This worsens their outcomes, because a great part of the entire neuroplastic window for learning is misspent. There is emerging evidence that the impact on outcomes of early goal-directed training involving the parents in infants with neurodevelopmental disabilities is significantly superior to the results achieved in older children and adults, especially if intervention commences in the first months of life. This chapter outlines the common elements of neurodevelopment and early intervention. It includes an outline of some of the primary early intervention practices and the scientific evidence driving them.
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