“Giving” and “responding” differences in gestural communication between nonhuman great ape mothers and infants
We examined (i) how frequently mothers and infants gestured to each other and to other group members; and (ii) to what extent infants and mothers responded to the gestural attempts of others. Our findings confirmed the hypothesis that bonobo mothers were more proactive in their gesturing to their infants than the other species. Yet mothers (from all four species) often did not respond to the gestures of their infants and other group members. In contrast, infants “pervasively” responded to gestures they received from their mothers and other group members. We propose that infants’ pervasive responsiveness rather than t...
Source: Developmental Psychobiology - March 20, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Christel Schneider, Katja Liebal, Josep Call Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research
Cover, Ed Board and TOC
(Source: Developmental Psychobiology)
Source: Developmental Psychobiology - March 20, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Tags: ISSUE INFORMATION Source Type: research
Context ‐dependent extinction of an appetitive operant conditioned response in infant rats
Abstract
The present study evaluated context‐dependent learning under an operant conditioning procedure in infant rats. Preweanling rats were trained in context A during postnatal days (PDs) 16 and 17 to learn an appetitive operant conditioning task, employing milk chocolate as appetitive reinforcer. On PD18 the operant response was extinguished in context A, or in an alternative context B. The change from context A to B between acquisition and extinction did not affect the number of responses during extinction, but slightly modified the shape of the extinction curve. On PD19, a renewal test conducted in context A clearl...
Source: Developmental Psychobiology - March 12, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Estefan ía Orellana Barrera, Carlos Arias, Felisa González, Paula Abate Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research
The effects of stimulus symmetry on hierarchical processing in infancy
The current study investigated the effects of stimulus symmetry on the processing of global and local stimulus properties by 6‐month‐old short‐ and long‐looking infants through the use of event‐related potentials (ERPs). Previous research has shown that individual differences in infant visual attention are related to hierarchical stimulus processing, such that short lookers show a global processing bias, while long lookers demonstrate a local processing bias (Guy, Reynolds, & Zhang, ). Additional research has shown that in comparison with asymmetry, symmetry is associated with more efficient stimulus processi...
Source: Developmental Psychobiology - March 12, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Maggie W. Guy, Greg D. Reynolds, Sara M. Mosteller, Kate C. Dixon Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research
Lipids in maternal diet influence yolk hormone levels and post ‐hatch neophobia in the domestic chick
Abstract
We assessed whether the ratio of dietary n‐6/n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) during egg formation engenders transgenerational maternal effects in domestic chicks. We analyzed yolk lipid and hormone concentrations, and HPA‐axis activity in hens fed a control diet (high n‐6/n‐3 ratio) or a diet enriched in n‐3 PUFAs (low n‐6/n‐3 ratio) for 6 consecutive weeks. Their chicks were tested for neophobia during the first week of life. We found higher corticosterone metabolites in droppings of hens fed the diet enriched in n‐3 and significantly higher concentrations of yolk progesterone, androstene...
Source: Developmental Psychobiology - March 5, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Elske N. de Haas, Ludovic Calandreau, Elisabeth Ba éza, Pascal Chartrin, Rupert Palme, Anne‐Sophie Darmaillacq, Ludovic Dickel, Sophie Lumineau, Cécilia Houdelier, Isabelle Denis, Cécile Arnould, Maryse Meurisse, Aline Bertin Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research
Parasympathetic reactivity and disruptive behavior problems in young children during interactions with their mothers and other adults: A preliminary investigation
Abstract
Parasympathetic nervous system influences on cardiac functions—commonly indexed via respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA)—are central to self‐regulation. RSA suppression during challenging emotional and cognitive tasks is often associated with better emotional and behavioral functioning in preschoolers. However, the links between RSA suppression and child behavior across various challenging interpersonal contexts remains unclear. The present study experimentally evaluated the relationship between child RSA reactivity to adult (mother vs. study staff) direction and disruptive behavior problems in children ages 3...
Source: Developmental Psychobiology - March 5, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Christine E. Cooper ‐Vince, Mariah DeSerisy, Danielle Cornacchio, Amanda Sanchez, Katie A. McLaughlin, Jonathan S. Comer Tags: BRIEF REPORT Source Type: research
Preschoolers ’ genetic, physiological, and behavioral sensitivity factors moderate links between parenting stress and child internalizing, externalizing, and sleep problems
This study examined three potential moderators of the relations between maternal parenting stress and preschoolers’ adjustment problems: a genetic polymorphism—the short allele of the serotonin transporter (5‐HTTLPR, ss/sl allele) gene, a physiological indicator—children's baseline respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), and a behavioral indicator—mothers’ reports of children's negative emotionality. A total of 108 mothers (Mage = 30.68 years, SDage = 6.06) reported on their parenting stress as well as their preschoolers’ (Mage = 3.50 years, SDage = 0.51, 61% boys) negative emotionality and intern...
Source: Developmental Psychobiology - February 28, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Molly Davis, Kristel Thomassin, Joanie Bilms, Cynthia Suveg, Anne Shaffer, Steven R.H. Beach Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research
Mild perinatal adversities moderate the association between maternal harsh parenting and hair cortisol: Evidence for differential susceptibility
Abstract
It has been shown that following exposure to mild perinatal adversity, children have greater susceptibility to both the negative and positive aspects of their subsequent environment. In a large population‐based cohort study (N = 1,776), we investigated whether mild perinatal adversity moderated the association between maternal harsh parenting and children's hair cortisol levels, a biomarker of chronic stress. Mild perinatal adversity was defined as late preterm birth (gestational age at birth of 34–37 weeks, 6 days) or small for gestational age (birth weight between the 2.5th and 10th percentile for full t...
Source: Developmental Psychobiology - February 28, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Dafna A. Windhorst, Ralph C.A. Rippe, Viara R. Mileva ‐Seitz, Frank C. Verhulst, Vincent W.V. Jaddoe, Gerard Noppe, Elisabeth F.C. van Rossum, Erica L.T. van den Akker, Henning Tiemeier, Marinus H. van IJzendoorn, Marian J. Bakermans‐Kranenburg Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research
Birth order and recalled childhood gender nonconformity in Samoan men and fa'afafine
Abstract
Having a greater than average number of older biological brothers is a robust correlate of male androphilia (i.e., sexual attraction and arousal to adult males). Previous investigations have sought to understand whether this fraternal birth order (FBO) effect is also systematically related to recalled indicators of childhood gender nonconformity (CGN). However, these investigations have relied on data from low‐fertility Western populations in which expressions of femininity in male children are routinely stigmatized and consequently, suppressed. The present study examined the FBO effect (among other sibship char...
Source: Developmental Psychobiology - February 28, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Scott W. Semenyna, Doug P. VanderLaan, Paul L. Vasey Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research
Context ‐dependent individual differences in playfulness in male rats
This study investigated playfulness in male rats by exploring its consistency across motivational states (with/without prior short social isolation) and two age points at early and late adolescence. Twenty‐four male Lister Hooded rats housed in cages of four underwent two play tests: conspecific Play‐in‐Pairs and Tickling by the experimenter, which were compared with play in the home cage and basal anxiety levels. Play‐in‐Pairs measures were consistent across age and motivational states, and were independent from anxiety. Positively valenced vocalizations in the Tickling test were also consistent across age, yet ...
Source: Developmental Psychobiology - February 28, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Jessica F. Lampe, Oliver Burman, Hanno W ürbel, Luca Melotti Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research
FKBP5 genotype and early life stress exposure predict neurobehavioral outcomes for preterm infants
This study evaluated the relationship between stressful early life neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) experiences, genetic variation of a stress response‐associated gene (FKBP5), and neurobehavioral outcomes.
METHODThe impact of genetic variation and stress experience on neurobehavioral outcomes was examined for 41 preterm infants. Statistical analyses explored the main effects of FKBP5 genotype and NICU stress experience, as well as their interaction on infant neurobehavioral development prior to discharge.
RESULTSStatistical analyses demonstrated a relationship between both FKPB5 genotype and stress related to NICU ca...
Source: Developmental Psychobiology - February 28, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Amy L. D'Agata, Stephen Walsh, Dorothy Vittner, Xiaomei Cong, Jacqueline M. McGrath, Erin E. Young Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research
Dyadic flexibility mediates the relation between parent conflict and infants ’ vagal reactivity during the Face‐to‐Face Still‐Face
Abstract
Parent conflict is related to attenuated infant vagal reactivity, suggesting less effective regulation. Because infants’ self‐regulation develops in the context of coregulation, the current study examined a novel measure, flexibility, purported to reflect dyadic reorganization in response to contextual demands. Flexibility was expected to mediate the relation between greater conflict and lesser vagal reactivity during the reunion episode of the Face‐to‐Face Still‐Face (FFSF). Six‐month‐old infants’ and their mothers’ (N = 53) affective behaviors were observed during the FFSF and heart rate da...
Source: Developmental Psychobiology - February 21, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Alex Busuito, Ginger A. Moore Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research
Biological embedding of perinatal social relationships in infant stress reactivity
Abstract
Whereas significant advances have been made in understanding how exposure to early adversity “gets under the skin” of children to result in long term changes in developmental outcomes, the processes by which positive social relationships become biologically embedded remain poorly understood. The aim of this study was to understand the pathways by which maternal and infant social environments become biologically embedded in infant cortisol reactivity. Two hundred seventy‐two pregnant women and their infants were prospectively assessed during pregnancy and at 6 months postpartum. In serial mediation analyses, ...
Source: Developmental Psychobiology - February 20, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Jenna C. Thomas, Nicole Letourneau, Crystal I. Bryce, Tavis S. Campbell, Gerald F. Giesbrecht, Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research
Cover, Ed Board and TOC
(Source: Developmental Psychobiology)
Source: Developmental Psychobiology - February 12, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Tags: ISSUE INFORMATION Source Type: research
The development of repetitive motor behaviors in deer mice: Effects of environmental enrichment, repeated testing, and differential mediation by indirect basal ganglia pathway activation
Abstract
Little is known about the mechanisms mediating the development of repetitive behaviors in human or animals. Deer mice reared with environmental enrichment (EE) exhibit fewer repetitive behaviors and greater indirect basal ganglia pathway activation as adults than those reared in standard cages. The developmental progression of these behavioral and neural circuitry changes has not been characterized. We assessed the development of repetitive behavior in deer mice using both a longitudinal and cohort design. Repeated testing negated the expected effect of EE, but cohort analyses showed that progression of repetitive...
Source: Developmental Psychobiology - February 8, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Allison R. Bechard, Nikolay Bliznyuk, Mark H. Lewis Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research
