Infant cognitive development : the influence of maternal sensitivity and prior cognitive capacity

The association between perinatal depression and infant cognitive development has been well documented in research based in high-income contexts, but the literature regarding the same relationship in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) is less developed. The aim of this study is to systematically review what is known in this area in order to inform priorities for early intervention and future research in LMICs. The review protocol was pre-registered on Prospero (CRD42018108589) and relevant electronic databases were searched using a consistent set of keywords and 1473 articles were screened against the eligibility criteria. Sixteen articles were included in the review, seven focusing on the antenatal period, eight on the postnatal period, and one which included both. Five out of eight studies found a significant association between antenatal depression (d = .21-.93) and infant cognitive development, while four out of nine studies found a significant association with postnatal depression (d = .17-.47). Although the evidence suggests that LMICs should prioritise antenatal mental health care, many of the studies did not adequately isolate the effects of depression in each period. Furthermore, very few studies explored more complex interactions that may exist between perinatal depression and other relevant factors. More high-quality studies are needed in LMIC settings, driven by current theory, that test main effects and examine moderating or mediating pathways to cognitive development.

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Maternal Sensitivity, Mother-Child Attachment, and Cognitive Development of Preschool Children In Urban Poor Areas

Journal of Child Development Studies ◽

10.29244/jcds.2.2.51-63 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 51

Author(s):

Elien Surya Hadhyastuti ◽

Neti - Hernawati

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Development ◽

Urban Poor ◽

Maternal Sensitivity ◽

Childhood Education ◽

Child Attachment ◽

Mother’S Education ◽

Per Capita ◽

Child Cognitive Development ◽

Positive Significant Correlation ◽

Mother's Education

<p>This research aimed to analyze the influence of maternal sensitivity on mother-child attachment, and mother-child attachment on cognitive development. This research was conducted at Kelurahan Empang and Tegallega, Kota Bogor. The samples consist of 100 mothers and their child that were selected by proportional random sampling. The results showed that mother’s education length and maternal sensitivity has positive significant correlation with mother-child attachment. In addition, mother’s education length and income per capita has positive significant correlation with cognitive development. However, family size has negative significant correlation with mother-child attachment and also cognitive development. Child cognitive development was influenced by participation in early childhood education and mother’s education length. This research found that child cognitive development was not influenced by mother-child attachment.</p>

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Neuromuscular Diseases Affect Number Representation and Processing: An Exploratory Study

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2021.697881 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Hendrikje Schmidt ◽

Arianna Felisatti ◽

Michael von Aster ◽

Jürgen Wilbert ◽

Arpad von Moers ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Development ◽

Motor Development ◽

Muscular Atrophy ◽

Neuromuscular Diseases ◽

Random Number Generation ◽

Cognitive Capacity ◽

Compensatory Mechanism ◽

Motor Ability ◽

Number Representation ◽

Generation Task

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) both are rare genetic neuromuscular diseases with progressive loss of motor ability. The neuromotor developmental course of those diseases is well documented. In contrast, there is only little evidence about characteristics of general and specific cognitive development. In both conditions the final motor outcome is characterized by an inability to move autonomously: children with SMA never accomplish independent motoric exploration of their environment, while children with DMD do but later lose this ability again. These profound differences in developmental pathways might affect cognitive development of SMA vs. DMD children, as cognition is shaped by individual motor experiences. DMD patients show impaired executive functions, working memory, and verbal IQ, whereas only motor ability seems to be impaired in SMA. Advanced cognitive capacity in SMA may serve as a compensatory mechanism for achieving in education, career progression, and social satisfaction. This study aimed to relate differences in basic numerical concepts and arithmetic achievement in SMA and DMD patients to differences in their motor development and resulting sensorimotor and environmental experiences. Horizontal and vertical spatial-numerical associations were explored in SMA/DMD children ranging between 6 and 12 years through the random number generation task. Furthermore, arithmetic skills as well as general cognitive ability were assessed. Groups differed in spatial number processing as well as in arithmetic and domain-general cognitive functions. Children with SMA showed no horizontal and even reversed vertical spatial-numerical associations. Children with DMD on the other hand revealed patterns in spatial numerical associations comparable to healthy developing children. From the embodied Cognition perspective, early sensorimotor experience does play a role in development of mental number representations. However, it remains open whether and how this becomes relevant for the acquisition of higher order cognitive and arithmetic skills.

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