Journal article
Maternal oxytocin response predicts mother-to-infant gaze
Brain research, Vol.1580, pp.133-142
09/11/2014
DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2013.10.050
PMCID: PMC4286383
PMID: 24184574
Abstract
The neuropeptide oxytocin is importantly implicated in the emergence and maintenance of maternal behavior that forms the basis of the mother–infant bond. However, no research has yet examined the specific association between maternal oxytocin and maternal gaze, a key modality through which the mother makes social contact and engages with her infant. Furthermore, prior oxytocin studies have assessed maternal engagement primarily during episodes free of infant distress, while maternal engagement during infant distress is considered to be uniquely relevant to the formation of secure mother–infant attachment. Two patterns of maternal gaze, maternal gaze toward and gaze shifts away from the infant, were micro-coded while 50 mothers interacted with their 7-month-old infants during a modified still-face procedure. Maternal oxytocin response was defined as a change from baseline in the mother's plasma oxytocin level following interaction with her infant. The mother's oxytocin response was positively associated with the duration of time her gaze was directed toward her infant, while negatively associated with the frequency with which her gaze shifted away from her infant. Importantly, mothers who showed low/average oxytocin response demonstrated a significant decrease in their infant gaze during periods of infant distress, while such change was not observed in mothers with high oxytocin response. The findings underscore the involvement of oxytocin in regulating the mother's responsive engagement with her infant, particularly in times when the infant's need for access to the mother is greatest.
This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Oxytocin and Social Behav.
•We examine association between maternal oxytocin response and mother-to-infant gaze.•Maternal oxytocin is positively associated with duration of mother-to-infant gaze.•Maternal oxytocin is negatively associated with maternal gaze shifts from infant.•Mothers with low/average oxytocin response reduce their gaze during infant distress.•Mothers with high oxytocin response maintain their gaze during infant distress.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Maternal oxytocin response predicts mother-to-infant gaze
- Creators
- Sohye Kim - Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USAPeter Fonagy - Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USAOrsolya Koos - Department of Developmental Research, Institute for Psychology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 1394 Budapest, P.O. Box 398, HungaryKimberly Dorsett - Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USALane Strathearn - Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Brain research, Vol.1580, pp.133-142
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.brainres.2013.10.050
- PMID
- 24184574
- PMCID
- PMC4286383
- NLM abbreviation
- Brain Res
- ISSN
- 0006-8993
- eISSN
- 1872-6240
- Publisher
- Elsevier B.V
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 09/11/2014
- Academic Unit
- Psychiatry; Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics; Neuroscience and Pharmacology
- Record Identifier
- 9984040264702771
Metrics
17 Record Views