Postnatal maternal distress, infant subcortical brain macrostructure and emotional regulation

Samantha Bezanson; Emily S Nichols; Emma G Duerden

doi:10.1016/j.pscychresns.2022.111577

Postnatal maternal distress, infant subcortical brain macrostructure and emotional regulation

Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging. 2023 Jan:328:111577. doi: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2022.111577. Epub 2022 Dec 5.

Authors

Samantha Bezanson¹, Emily S Nichols², Emma G Duerden³

Affiliations

¹ Neuroscience Program, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
² Applied Psychology, Faculty of Education, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; Western Institute for Neuroscience, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
³ Neuroscience Program, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; Applied Psychology, Faculty of Education, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; Western Institute for Neuroscience, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; Children's Health Research Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: eduerden@uwo.ca.

Abstract

Background: Maternal distress is associated with an increased risk for adverse emotional development in infants, including difficulties with emotion regulation. Prenatal maternal distress has been associated with alterations in infant brain development. However, less is known about these associations with postnatal maternal distress, despite this being an important modifiable risk factor that can promote healthy brain development and emotional outcomes in infants.

Methods & results: Infants underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and mothers completed standardized questionnaires concerning their levels of perceived distress 2-5 months postpartum. Infant emotion regulation was assessed at 8-11 months via maternal report. When examining the associations between maternal distress and infant macrostructure, maternal anxiety was associated with infant right pallidum volumes. Increased display of negative emotions at 8-11 months of age was associated with smaller hippocampal volumes and this association was stronger in girls than boys.

Conclusion: Findings suggest that postnatal maternal distress may be associated with early infant brain development and emphasize the importance of maternal mental health, supporting previous work. Furthermore, macrostructural properties of infant subcortical structures may be further investigated as potential biomarkers to identify infants at risk of adverse emotional outcomes.

Keywords: Amygdala; Brain development; Emotional regulation; MRI; Maternal mental health.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Anxiety / diagnostic imaging
Anxiety / psychology
Brain / diagnostic imaging
Emotional Regulation*
Emotions
Female
Humans
Infant
Male
Mothers / psychology
Pregnancy

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding