Journal article
Brain basis of early parent-infant interactions: psychology, physiology, and in vivo functional neuroimaging studies
Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, Vol.48(3-4), pp.262-287
03/2007
DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2007.01731.x
PMCID: PMC4318551
PMID: 17355399
Abstract
Parenting behavior critically shapes human infants' current and future behavior. The parent-infant relationship provides infants with their first social experiences, forming templates of what they can expect from others and how to best meet others' expectations. In this review, we focus on the neurobiology of parenting behavior, including our own functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) brain imaging experiments of parents. We begin with a discussion of background, perspectives and caveats for considering the neurobiology of parent-infant relationships. Then, we discuss aspects of the psychology of parenting that are significantly motivating some of the more basic neuroscience research. Following that, we discuss some of the neurohormones that are important for the regulation of social bonding, and the dysregulation of parenting with cocaine abuse. Then, we review the brain circuitry underlying parenting, proceeding from relevant rodent and nonhuman primate research to human work. Finally, we focus on a study-by-study review of functional neuroimaging studies in humans. Taken together, this research suggests that networks of highly conserved hypothalamic-midbrain-limbic-paralimbic-cortical circuits act in concert to support aspects of parent response to infants, including the emotion, attention, motivation, empathy, decision-making and other thinking that are required to navigate the complexities of parenting. Specifically, infant stimuli activate basal forebrain regions, which regulate brain circuits that handle specific nurturing and caregiving responses and activate the brain's more general circuitry for handling emotions, motivation, attention, and empathy--all of which are crucial for effective parenting. We argue that an integrated understanding of the brain basis of parenting has profound implications for mental health.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Brain basis of early parent-infant interactions: psychology, physiology, and in vivo functional neuroimaging studies
- Creators
- James E Swain - Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-7900, USA. james.swain@yale.eduJeffrey P LorberbaumSamet KoseLane Strathearn
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, Vol.48(3-4), pp.262-287
- DOI
- 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2007.01731.x
- PMID
- 17355399
- PMCID
- PMC4318551
- NLM abbreviation
- J Child Psychol Psychiatry
- ISSN
- 0021-9630
- eISSN
- 1469-7610
- Publisher
- Wiley; England
- Grant note
- K23 HD043097 / NICHD NIH HHS R03 HD49422-01 / NICHD NIH HHS T32 MH018268 / NIMH NIH HHS R03 HD049422 / NICHD NIH HHS K23 HD043097-04 / NICHD NIH HHS K12 HD041648 / NICHD NIH HHS R01 NS40259-01 / NINDS NIH HHS K12 HD41648 / NICHD NIH HHS R01 NS040259 / NINDS NIH HHS
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 03/2007
- Academic Unit
- Psychiatry; Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics; Neuroscience and Pharmacology
- Record Identifier
- 9984040381902771
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