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Neel ML, Jeanvoine A, Key A, Stark AR, Norton ES, Relland LM, Hay K, Maitre NL. Behavioral and neural measures of infant responsivity increase with maternal multisensory input in non-irritable infants. Brain Behav 2023; 13:e3253. [PMID: 37786238 PMCID: PMC10636412 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.3253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Parents often use sensory stimulation during early-life interactions with infants. These interactions, including gazing, rocking, or singing, scaffold child development. Previous studies have examined infant neural processing during highly controlled sensory stimulus presentation paradigms. OBJECTIVE In this study, we investigated infant behavioral and neural responsiveness during a mother-child social interaction during which the mother provided infant stimulation with a progressive increase in the number of sensory modalities. METHODS We prospectively collected and analyzed video-coded behavioral interactions and electroencephalogram (EEG) frontal asymmetry (FAS) from infants (n = 60) at 2-4 months born at ≥ 34 weeks gestation. As the number of sensory modalities progressively increased during the interaction, infant behaviors of emotional connection in facial expressiveness, sensitivity to mother, and vocal communication increased significantly. Conversely, infant FAS for the entire cohort did not change significantly. However, when we accounted for infant irritability, both video-coded behaviors and EEG FAS markers of infant responsiveness increased across the interaction in the non-irritable infants. The non-irritable infants (49%) demonstrated positive FAS, indicating readiness to engage with, rather than to withdraw from, multisensory but not unisensory interactions with their mothers. RESULTS These results suggest that multisensory input from mothers is associated with greater infant neural approach state and highlight the importance of infant behavioral state during neural measures of infant responsiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Lauren Neel
- Department of Pediatrics & NeonatologyEmory University School of Medicine & Children's Healthcare of AtlantaAtlanta, GAUSA
| | - Arnaud Jeanvoine
- The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's HospitalColumbus, OHUSA
| | | | - Ann R. Stark
- Department of Pediatrics & NeonatologyBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center & Harvard Medical SchoolBoston, MAUSA
| | | | - Lance M. Relland
- The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's HospitalColumbus, OHUSA
- Department of Anesthesiology & Pain MedicineNationwide Children's Hospital & The Ohio State UniversityColumbus, OHUSA
| | - Krystal Hay
- The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's HospitalColumbus, OHUSA
| | - Nathalie L. Maitre
- Department of Pediatrics & NeonatologyEmory University School of Medicine & Children's Healthcare of AtlantaAtlanta, GAUSA
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Campagna AX, Pham CN, Gartstein MA. Understanding emerging regulation: The role of frontal electroencephalography asymmetry and negative affectivity. Dev Psychobiol 2021; 63:e22198. [PMID: 34674241 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22198] [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: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The present study examined frontal electroencephalography (EEG) asymmetry and negative affectivity (NA) as predictors of infant behaviors during the Still-Face Paradigm (SFP). It was hypothesized that infants with lower NA subscale scores who also demonstrate greater left frontal activation would exhibit more frequent social engagement and self-soothing behaviors during the SFP. Mothers reported infant temperament at 6-12 months of age (N = 62), and EEG was recorded during a baseline task and the SFP. Social engagement, distress, and self-soothing behaviors were coded during the SFP. A three-factor solution emerged based on exploratory factor analysis of eight infant behaviors. After considering bivariate relations, multiple regression analyses predicting the behavior factor labeled social engagement (containing vocalizations and handwaving; average factor loading = .56) were conducted separately for asymmetry and NA subscales, controlling for infant sex and age. The SFP asymmetry predicted social engagement after controlling for covariates and baseline asymmetry; however, NA subscales (falling reactivity and distress to limitations) did not uniquely explain significant variance. These findings highlight the importance of frontal EEG asymmetry in contributing to emerging social engagement and regulation in infancy. Implications include potentially utilizing asymmetry markers as screening and intervention targets in the first year of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allegra X Campagna
- Department of Psychology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Christie N Pham
- Department of Psychology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Maria A Gartstein
- Department of Psychology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
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Ilyka D, Johnson MH, Lloyd-Fox S. Infant social interactions and brain development: A systematic review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 130:448-469. [PMID: 34506843 PMCID: PMC8522805 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Associations between caregiver-infant behaviours during social interactions and brain development outcomes were investigated. Caregivers' and infants' behaviours in interactions related to children’s structural, functional and connectivity measures. Concurrent associations between behavioural and brain measures were apparent as early as three months postnatally. Long-term associations between behaviours in early interactions and brain development outcomes were observed decades later. Individual differences in early interactions and associated brain development is an important avenue for further research.
From birth, interactions with others are an integral part of a person’s daily life. In infancy, social exchanges are thought to be critical for optimal brain development. This systematic review explores this association by drawing together infant studies that relate adult-infant behaviours – coded from their social interactions - to children’s brain measures collected during a neuroimaging session in infancy, childhood, adolescence or adulthood. In total, we identified 55 studies that explored associations between infants’ social interactions and neural measures. These studies show that several aspects of caregiver-infant behaviours are associated with, or predict, a variety of neural responses in infants, children and adolescents. The presence of both concurrent and long-term associations - some of which are first observed just a few months postnatally and extend into adulthood - open an important research avenue and motivate further longitudinal studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dianna Ilyka
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.
| | - Mark H Johnson
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Lloyd-Fox
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Clark ELM, Jiao Y, Sandoval K, Biringen Z. Neurobiological Implications of Parent-Child Emotional Availability: A Review. Brain Sci 2021; 11:1016. [PMID: 34439635 PMCID: PMC8391119 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11081016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Parental influences are important for a child's behavior, overall adjustment, as well as cognitive/language development. New research is exploring how relationships with parents can influence a child's neurobiological functioning and development. In this systematic review, our first aim is to describe how the caregiving environment influences these aspects of child development. The second and main aim is to review and recommend that the concept (and measurement) of "emotional availability" may provide a new window in this continued exploration. Emotional availability (EA) refers to the capacity of a dyad to share an emotionally healthy relationship. The EA Scales assess this construct using a multi-dimensional framework, with a method to measure the affect and behavior of both the child and adult partner (caregiver). In this review, we first provide an overview of child development research, with regards to stress physiology, neuroendocrine system, genetics and epigenetics, and brain mechanisms. We then summarize the results of specific EA research in these areas, and propose a theoretical model integrating these constructs. Finally, we offer areas for future research in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Zeynep Biringen
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Colorado State University, 1570 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; (E.L.M.C.); (Y.J.); (K.S.)
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Hardin JS, Jones NA, Mize KD, Platt M. Affectionate Touch in the Context of Breastfeeding and Maternal Depression Influences Infant Neurodevelopmental and Temperamental Substrates. Neuropsychobiology 2021; 80:158-175. [PMID: 33461198 PMCID: PMC8117377 DOI: 10.1159/000511604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While numerous studies have demonstrated maternal depression's influence on infant brain development, few studies have examined the changes that occur as a consequence of co-occurring experiential factors that affect quality of mother and infant affectionate touch as well as infant temperament and neurophysiological systems. The aim of the study was to examine the interactive effects of maternal depression and breastfeeding on mother and infant affectionate touch and infant temperament and cortical maturation patterns across early development. METHODS 113 mothers and their infants participated when infants were 1 and 3 months of age. Questionnaires to assess maternal depressive symptoms, feeding, and temperament were completed. Tonic EEG patterns (asymmetry and left and right activity) were collected and the dyads were video-recorded during feeding to assess mother and infant affectionate touch patterns. RESULTS Data analysis showed that EEG activity and mother-infant affectionate touch differed as a function of mood and feeding method. Notably, only infants of depressed mothers that bottle-fed showed right frontal EEG asymmetry and attenuated change in the left frontal region across 3 months. Breastfeeding positively impacted affectionate touch behaviors and was associated with increased left and decreased right frontal EEG activation even for depressed groups. Furthermore, a model incorporating physiology, maternal depression, touch, temperament, and feeding indicated significant prediction for infant affectionate touch (with breastfeeding and affectively positive temperament demonstrating the strongest prediction). Con-clusion: The findings suggest that breastfeeding and the infant's positive temperament influence mother-infant affectionate touch patterns and result in neuroprotective outcomes for infants, even those exposed to maternal depression within early development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jillian S. Hardin
- *Jillian Hardin, Department of Psychology, Florida Atlantic University, 5353 Parkside Drive, Jupiter, FL 33458 (USA),
| | - Nancy Aaron Jones
- Charles E. Schmidt College Science Department of Psychology, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida, USA
| | - Krystal D. Mize
- Charles E. Schmidt College Science Department of Psychology, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida, USA
| | - Melannie Platt
- Charles E. Schmidt College Science Department of Psychology, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida, USA
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Cromwell HC, Abe N, Barrett KC, Caldwell-Harris C, Gendolla GH, Koncz R, Sachdev PS. Mapping the interconnected neural systems underlying motivation and emotion: A key step toward understanding the human affectome. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 113:204-226. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.02.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2018] [Revised: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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Paulus M, Licata M, Gniewosz B, Sodian B. The impact of mother-child interaction quality and cognitive abilities on children’s self-concept and self-esteem. COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cogdev.2018.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Kungl MT, Leyh R, Spangler G. Attachment Representations and Brain Asymmetry during the Processing of Autobiographical Emotional Memories in Late Adolescence. Front Hum Neurosci 2017; 10:644. [PMID: 28082880 PMCID: PMC5183619 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2016.00644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2016] [Accepted: 12/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Frontal and parietal asymmetries have repeatedly been shown to be related to specific functional mechanisms involved in emotion regulation. From a developmental perspective, attachment representations based on experiences with the caregiver are theorized to serve regulatory functions and influence how individuals deal with emotionally challenging situations throughout the life span. This study aimed to investigate neural substrates of emotion regulation by assessing state- and trait dependent EEG asymmetries in secure, insecure-dismissing and insecure-preoccupied subjects. The sample consisted of 40 late adolescents. The Adult Attachment Interview was administered and they were asked to report upon personally highly salient emotional memories related to anger, happiness and sadness. EEG was recorded at rest and during the retrieval of each of these emotional memories, and frontal and parietal hemispheric asymmetry were analyzed. We found attachment representations to differentially affect both the frontal and parietal organization of hemispheric asymmetry at rest and (for parietal region only) during the retrieval of emotional memories. During rest, insecure-dismissing subjects showed an elevated right-frontal brain activity and a reduced right-parietal brain activity. We interpret this finding in light of a disposition to use withdrawal strategies and low trait arousal in insecure-dismissing subjects. Emotional memory retrieval did not affect frontal asymmetry. However, both insecure groups showed an increase in right-sided parietal activity indicating increased arousal during the emotional task as compared to the resting state suggesting that their emotion regulation capability was especially challenged by the retrieval of emotional memories while securely attached subjects maintained a state of moderate arousal. The specific neurophysiological pattern of insecure-dismissing subjects is discussed with regard to a vulnerability to affective disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie T Kungl
- Institute of Psychology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg Erlangen, Germany
| | - Rainer Leyh
- Institute of Psychology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg Erlangen, Germany
| | - Gottfried Spangler
- Institute of Psychology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg Erlangen, Germany
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Paulus M, Becker E, Scheub A, König L. Preschool children’s attachment security is associated with their sharing with others. Attach Hum Dev 2015; 18:1-15. [DOI: 10.1080/14616734.2015.1100208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Saunders H, Kraus A, Barone L, Biringen Z. Emotional availability: theory, research, and intervention. Front Psychol 2015; 6:1069. [PMID: 26283996 PMCID: PMC4516809 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2015] [Accepted: 07/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Attachment theory (Bowlby, 1969) and its limitations are first described. Next, emotional availability (EA; Biringen et al., 1998; Biringen, 2008) is introduced as an expansion upon the original conceptualization of the parent-child attachment relationship. As a construct and as a measure, EA considers the dyadic and emotional qualities of adult-child relationships. EA is predictive of a variety of child outcomes, such as attachment security, emotion regulation, and school readiness. Recently developed programs to enhance adult-child EA are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Saunders
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Allyson Kraus
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Lavinia Barone
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Science, Psychology Section, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Zeynep Biringen
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
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