scholarly journals The role of caregiver touch in early neurodevelopment and parent-infant interactional synchrony

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofia Carozza ◽  
Victoria Leong

Though rarely included in studies of parent-infant interactions, affectionate touch plays a unique and vital role in infant development. Previous studies in human and rodent models have established that early and consistent affectionate touch from a caregiver confers wide-ranging and holistic benefits for infant psychosocial and neurophysiological development. We begin by providing a brief review of how affectionate touch tunes the development of infant somatosensory, autonomic (stress regulation) and immune systems. Affective touch also plays a foundational role in the establishment of social affiliative bonds and early psychosocial behavior. These touch-related bonding effects are known to be mediated primarily by the oxytocin system, but touch also activates mesocorticolimbic dopamine and endogenous opioid systems which aid the development of social cognitive processes such as social learning and reward processing. We conclude by proposing a unique role for affectionate touch as an essential pathway to establishing and maintaining parent-infant interactional synchrony at behavioural, physiological and neural levels. The limitations of the current understanding of affectionate touch in infant development point to fruitful avenues for future research.

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofia Carozza ◽  
Victoria Leong

Though rarely included in studies of parent–infant interactions, affectionate touch plays a unique and vital role in infant development. Previous studies in human and rodent models have established that early and consistent affectionate touch from a caregiver confers wide-ranging and holistic benefits for infant psychosocial and neurophysiological development. We begin with an introduction to the neurophysiological pathways for the positive effects of touch. Then, we provide a brief review of how affectionate touch tunes the development of infant somatosensory, autonomic (stress regulation), and immune systems. Affective touch also plays a foundational role in the establishment of social affiliative bonds and early psychosocial behavior. These touch-related bonding effects are known to be mediated primarily by the oxytocin system, but touch also activates mesocorticolimbic dopamine and endogenous opioid systems which aid the development of social cognitive processes such as social learning and reward processing. We conclude by proposing a unique role for affectionate touch as an essential pathway to establishing and maintaining parent-infant interactional synchrony at behavioral and neural levels. The limitations of the current understanding of affectionate touch in infant development point to fruitful avenues for future research.


2008 ◽  
Vol 22 (S1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlyn C Zylstra ◽  
Lisa M Zelinski ◽  
Eunhee Chung ◽  
Yusuke Ohgami ◽  
Donald Y Shirachi ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Dino Gibertoni ◽  
Alessandra Sansavini ◽  
Silvia Savini ◽  
Chiara Locatelli ◽  
Gina Ancora ◽  
...  

There is evidence that preterm infants of migrant mothers are at a higher risk of adverse perinatal outcomes than those of native-born mothers, and that human milk feeding is beneficial to infants’ neurodevelopment. Using the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI) to classify mother’s country of origin, we investigated whether type of neonatal feeding (human milk vs. mixed milk vs. exclusive formula milk) affected preterm newborn neurodevelopment varying across different HDI categories (Italian native-born vs. high HDI migrant vs. low HDI migrant) up to 2 years of age. Neurodevelopment of 530 infants born in Italy at ≤32 weeks of gestational age and/or weighing <1500 g was measured at 3-, 6-, 9-, 12-, 18-, and 24-months corrected age (CA) using the revised Griffiths Mental Development Scale 0–2 years. The trajectories of the general developmental quotient and its five subscales were estimated using mixed models. At 24-months CA only preterm infants of low HDI migrant mothers and fed exclusive formula milk showed moderate neurodevelopment impairment, with lower developmental trajectories of eye-hand coordination, performance, and personal-social abilities. Migrant mothers from low HDI countries and their preterm infants should be targeted by specific programs supporting maternal environment, infant development, and human or mixed milk neonatal feeding. Future research should focus on a deeper understanding of the mechanisms through which type of feeding and mother migrant conditions interact in influencing preterm infants’ neurodevelopment.


10.28945/3873 ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 459-474 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hsiu Ju Chen

Aim/Purpose: This study explores the associations between elementary school learners’ m-learning and learner satisfactions based on the technology-mediated learning model. Background: M-learning (mobile learning) is emerging, but its role in elementary education still needs clarification. Methodology: Questionnaires were mailed to several different elementary schools, located in different areas that adopted m-learning. Due to the possible limited cognitive ability because of age, short measures were adopted in the study. Finally, data from eighty-six elementary school learners who had experience in mobile learning were gathered and analyzed with Partial Least Square (PLS) for the limited sample size. Contribution: The results implied the vital role of m-learning in providing different form of interaction in class to activate elementary school learners’ course participation. They also indicated that mobile learning not only activated learners’ active course participation but linked students, teachers, courses, and schools. Findings: The results showed that m-technology quality of mobile learning was signifi-cantly associated with learners’ active course participation and satisfaction to-ward apps/tablets in m-learning that contributed to different learner satisfac-tions. Recommendations for Practitioners: The findings suggested that with good interaction quality facilitated by apps/tablets in m-learning, m-learning could be a suitable medium for teachers to have interaction with students and increased students’ different satisfactions in schools at alternative collective learning environments in elementary education. Future Research: Future studies to measure and reflect different impact of student-teacher interaction in m-learning are suggested.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Jane Charles ◽  
Miguel Farias ◽  
R. I. M. Dunbar

The American National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH) has put out a set of research goals that include a long-term plan to identify more reliable endogenous explanations for a wide variety of mental health disorders (Insel, 2013). In response to this, we have identified a major symptom that underlies multiple mental health disorders – social bonding dysfunction. We suggest that endogenous opioid abnormalities can lead to altered social bonding, which is a symptom of various mental health disorders, including depression, schizophrenia and ASD. This article first outlines how endogenous opioids play a role in social bonding. Then we show their association with the body’s inflammation immune function, and review recent literature linking inflammation to mental health ‘immunophenotypes’. We finish by explaining how these immunophenotypes may be caused by alterations in the endogenous opioid system. This is the first overview of the role of inflammation across multiple disorders where we provide a biochemical explanation for why immunophenotypes might exist across diagnoses. We propose a novel mechanism of how the immune system may be causing ‘sickness-type’ behaviours (fatigue, appetite change, social withdrawal and inhibited motivation) in those who have these immunophenotypes. We hope that this novel aetiology can be used as a basis for future research in mental health.


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 273-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Weiss ◽  
Mona Weiss

Abstract The term subjective age bias describes the phenomenon that from adolescence to old age most people feel significantly younger or older than their chronological age. Although recent advances in life-span development research demonstrate the fundamental role of subjective age bias for well-being, performance, and health, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. By highlighting the motivational and social-cognitive mechanisms of the subjective age bias, we answer 3 crucial questions and discuss implications for work and organizations. We conclude with recommendations for future research.


1983 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 429-441 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Craig Risch ◽  
David S. Janowsky ◽  
Lewis L. Judd ◽  
Christian Gillin ◽  
Sharon F. McClure

Author(s):  
Qiao Wang

The study is the second in a series of mixed-methods studies on the integration of The Sims 4, a life-simulation game, into language classrooms. In this study, the researcher explores the effect of game-based language learning (GBLL) on students' English communicative competence from three aspects, interaction, fluency and content, in a Japanese university. In class, students received instruction from the teacher on game language and gameplay skills, played the game on their own and presented gameplay stories. The presentations were recorded for evaluation. Surveys were also administered for students' perceptions on the GBLL classroom. Results showed that no clear improvement in communicative competence was suggested by quantitative evaluation. Qualitatively data, however, indicated that the game afforded students interesting events and proper expressions in presentations and that the teacher played a vital role in ensuring ample interactional opportunities and linguistic support. Suggestions for future research in classroom-situated GBLL were also proposed.


Author(s):  
Liang Liang ◽  
Guyang Tian ◽  
Xue Zhang ◽  
Yezhuang Tian

Extant research focuses on the antecedents of employee helping behavior, but the role of social technologies in enhancing employee helping behavior remains understudied. The purpose of our research is to investigate the relationship between communication visibility and employee helping behavior. Drawing on both communication visibility theory and social cognitive theory, we propose that the association between communication visibility and helping behavior is mediated by employee psychological state assessed by a cognitive state variable: trust in coworkers. Further, we also propose that proactive personality moderates the positive effect of trust in coworkers on employee helping behavior. We examined our hypothesized relationships using 149 employees collected in a field experiment in China. As hypothesized, we find that trust in coworkers mediates the relationship between communication visibility and helping behavior. Moreover, proactive personality strengthens the effectiveness of communication visibility. We discuss the implications of our findings for future research and practice.


2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 309-327
Author(s):  
Evert Van den Broeck ◽  
Karolien Poels ◽  
Michel Walrave

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the role of five highly relevant advertiser- (i.e. personalization and ad placement) and consumer-controlled (i.e. privacy concerns, perceived relevance and Facebook motives) factors in the evaluation and perceived outcomes of personalized Facebook advertising as well as how these factors interrelate. Design/methodology/approach Twenty-eight semi-structured interviews, in which elicitation techniques were used, were carried out among 25- to 55-year-old Facebook users. Findings The findings point to a complex tradeoff between the risks and benefits of personalized Facebook advertising, in which perceived relevance and Facebook use motives play a vital role. Research limitations/implications This study focused on the general Facebook advertising experience, yet the elicitation techniques were applied only on the desktop website. Future research should look further into mobile advertising formats. Practical implications Personalization and retargeting algorithms could be improved and ads should be designed with the customers’ interests in mind to improve their effectiveness and reduce privacy concerns. Originality/value Social media advertising innovates at a high pace. Yet, the literature shows an urgent need for research into which ad formats and characteristics appeal to users and why (or why not). Qualitative studies into the determinants of advertising outcomes are scarce but highly needed because they can uncover complex interactions between factors and thus provide a deeper understanding.


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