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Concomitant brain and affective development in infancy

Fri, March 22, 3:00 to 4:30pm, Baltimore Convention Center, Floor: Level 3, Room 322

Integrative Statement

Individual differences in neurophysiological functioning and temperament in the family context set the trajectory for development in infancy. The infant brain is particularly malleable to environmental influences; a benefit within an enriched environment but harmful in a deleterious environment. 25 years of studies have shown that infants of depressed mothers are at-risk for demonstrating right frontal asymmetry (RFA), linked to the lack of approach motivation (Peltola et al., 2014). Studies have also associated neurohormones (e.g., dopamine and serotonin) to risk (Field, Diego, & Hernandez-Reif, 2006), however, due to plasticity there is opportunity for dysregulated physiological patterns to be redirected through enriched contexts. Possible attenuating variables that have not thoroughly been studied are oxytocin (Carter et al., 2007) and optimal mother-infant interactive feeding and touch patterns. Seeking to rectify this oversight, we have examined socio-emotional and brain development in infants of depressed mothers and the factors that may attenuate risk in early development.
In study 1, 113 mother-infant dyads participated at 1-month with 81 returning at 3-months. Depressive symptoms and feeding were collected as well as assessments of infant temperament and salivary cortisol. Mother-infant behaviors were coded during interactions and baseline EEG was recorded, with measures of power, asymmetry as well as coherence obtained.
Analyses revealed differences in interactive touch and EEG power and asymmetry for the frontal region, Fs from = 6.48 to 10.66, ps < .05, with both cross-age and within-age effects for depression and feeding groups, ps < .05. Left hemisphere scores changed for the depressed and breastfeeding infants, with this group showing a shift to more left activity from 1- to 3-months whereas at 3-months the depressed, bottle-feeding group demonstrated the least left frontal activity, F=3.28, p < .04. Meaningful effects in EEG coherence for feeding groups were obtained, with breast feeders showing greater mid- and lateral-frontal to parietal connectivity and greater mid-frontal to occipital, connectivity in the left hemisphere, Fs from 3.0 to 4.7, ps < .05.
In study 2 we collected similar data on 48 mother-infant pairs starting at the prenatal period, with unique measures of urinary oxytocin (Ziegler & Crockford, 2017), and maternal-rated prenatal and postnatal attachment.
Results showed that prenatal oxytocin levels were negatively related to depression scores at 3 months postpartum (r=-.47, p=.02) and that depression across age was correlated with temperament, i.e., negatively with cuddliness (r = -.41 to -.62, ps < .05) and positively with distress (r = .34 to .44, ps < .05). Attachment ratings predicted confidence and quality of breastfeeding as well as stronger postnatal bonding (Rsquare=.39, beta=.53). Analyses between frontal EEG asymmetry and oxytocin revealed that infants displaying low oxytocin levels exhibited greater relative RFA (M =-.35, SD=.80) compared to infants high in oxytocin (M=1.48, SD=.89).
Findings will discussed further, including the interplay between oxytocin and stress regulation, from a socio-affective neuroscience perspective. Currently findings illustrate the critical role that mother-infant interactive behaviors (including feeding experiences) play in parenting, positively impacting infant neurodevelopmental outcomes and potentially attenuating the negative effects of depression.

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