Neurobiology of infant attachment

Neurobiology of infant attachment.

A strong attachment to the caregiver is critical for survival in altricial species, including humans. While some behavioral aspects of attachment have been characterized, its neurobiology has only recently received attention. Using a mammalian imprinting model, we are assessing the neural circuitry that enables infant rats to attach quickly to a caregiver, thus enhancing survival in the nest. S...

The development and neurobiology of infant attachment and fear.

Survival of altricial infants depends on attachment to the caregiver - a process that requires infants to identify, learn, remember, and approach their attachment figure. Here we review the neurobiology of attachment in infant rats where learning about the caregiver is supported by a specialized attachment neural circuitry to promote the infant-caregiver relationship. Specifically, the attachme...

Unique neurobiology during the sensitive period for attachment produces distinctive infant trauma processing

BACKGROUND Trauma has neurobehavioral effects when experienced at any stage of development, but trauma experienced in early life has unique neurobehavioral outcomes related to later life psychiatric sequelae. Recent evidence has further highlighted the context of infant trauma as a critical variable in determining its immediate and enduring consequences. Trauma experienced from an attachment fi...

Quality of Mother–Infant Attachment after Physiological Birth

Background Childbirth affects the quality of mother–neonate attachment after delivery. The aim of this study was to compare the quality of mother–infant attachment in physiological delivery with non-physiological delivery after birth. Materials and Methods A case-control study was conducted on 60 women (n = 30 non- physiological delivery, 30 physiological delivery) referred to Shahid YahyaNejad...

Autism and Infant Attachment: