Study Protocol: Longitudinal Attention and Temperament Study

Background: Attention processes may play a central role in shaping trajectories of socioemotional development. Individuals who are clinically anxious or have high levels trait anxiety sometimes show attention biases to threat. There is emerging evidence that young children also demonstrate link between bias salient stimuli and broad profiles. However, we do not systematic comprehensive assessment how biases, associated neural behavioral correlates, emerge change from infancy through toddlerhood. This paper describes the Longitudinal Temperament study (LAnTs), which designed target these open questions. Method: The current examines core components across first 2 years life, as well measures temperament, parental psychosocial functioning, biological markers emotion regulation risk. demographically diverse sample ( N = 357) was recruited area surrounding State College, PA, Harrisburg, Newark, NJ. Infants parents assessed at 4, 8, 12, 18, 24 months. Assessments include repeated (via eye-tracking) both infants parents, temperament (reactivity, negative affect), traits (e.g., depression), (electrophysiology, EEG, respiratory sinus arrythmia, RSA), environment (geocoding, neighborhood characteristics, perceived stress). Outcomes temperamental inhibition, social behavior, early symptom profiles, cellular aging telomere length). Discussion: multi-method aims identify biomarkers indicators attentional trajectories. brought together innovative measurement techniques capture earliest mechanisms be causally linked pervasive set problem behaviors. analyses will address important questions development help shape future research. Analyses systematically assessing patterns, allow us delineate time course any interrelations. Finally, this directly assess competing models life.