Behavioral and genetic correlates of the neural response to infant crying among human fathers

Jennifer S Mascaro; Patrick D Hackett; Harold Gouzoules; Adriana Lori; James K Rilling

doi:10.1093/scan/nst166

Behavioral and genetic correlates of the neural response to infant crying among human fathers

Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2014 Nov;9(11):1704-12. doi: 10.1093/scan/nst166. Epub 2013 Dec 12.

Authors

Jennifer S Mascaro¹, Patrick D Hackett², Harold Gouzoules², Adriana Lori², James K Rilling³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anthropology, Emory University, 207 Anthropology Building, 1557 Dickey Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 1639 Pierce Drive, Suite 4000, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Emory University, PO Box 3966, Atlanta, GA 30302, USA, Department of Psychology, Emory University, 36 Eagle Row, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, and Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322 Department of Anthropology, Emory University, 207 Anthropology Building, 1557 Dickey Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 1639 Pierce Drive, Suite 4000, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Emory University, PO Box 3966, Atlanta, GA 30302, USA, Department of Psychology, Emory University, 36 Eagle Row, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, and Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322 Department of Anthropology, Emory University, 207 Anthropology Building, 1557 Dickey Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 1639 Pierce Drive, Suite 4000, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Emory University, PO Box 3966, Atlanta, GA 30302, USA, Department of Psychology, Emory University, 36 Eagle Row, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, and Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322.
² Department of Anthropology, Emory University, 207 Anthropology Building, 1557 Dickey Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 1639 Pierce Drive, Suite 4000, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Emory University, PO Box 3966, Atlanta, GA 30302, USA, Department of Psychology, Emory University, 36 Eagle Row, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, and Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322.
³ Department of Anthropology, Emory University, 207 Anthropology Building, 1557 Dickey Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 1639 Pierce Drive, Suite 4000, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Emory University, PO Box 3966, Atlanta, GA 30302, USA, Department of Psychology, Emory University, 36 Eagle Row, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, and Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322 Department of Anthropology, Emory University, 207 Anthropology Building, 1557 Dickey Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 1639 Pierce Drive, Suite 4000, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Emory University, PO Box 3966, Atlanta, GA 30302, USA, Department of Psychology, Emory University, 36 Eagle Row, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, and Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322 Department of Anthropology, Emory University, 207 Anthropology Building, 1557 Dickey Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 1639 Pierce Drive, Suite 4000, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Emory University, PO Box 3966, Atlanta, GA 30302, USA, Department of Psychology, Emory University, 36 Eagle Row, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, and Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322 Department of Anthropology, Emory University, 207 Anthropology Building, 1557 Dickey Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory Univ

Abstract

Although evolution has shaped human infant crying and the corresponding response from caregivers, there is marked variation in paternal involvement and caretaking behavior, highlighting the importance of understanding the neurobiology supporting optimal paternal responses to cries. We explored the neural response to infant cries in fathers of children aged 1-2, and its relationship with hormone levels, variation in the androgen receptor (AR) gene, parental attitudes and parental behavior. Although number of AR CAG trinucleotide repeats was positively correlated with neural activity in brain regions important for empathy (anterior insula and inferior frontal gyrus), restrictive attitudes were inversely correlated with neural activity in these regions and with regions involved with emotion regulation (orbitofrontal cortex). Anterior insula activity had a non-linear relationship with paternal caregiving, such that fathers with intermediate activation were most involved. These results suggest that restrictive attitudes may be associated with decreased empathy and emotion regulation in response to a child in distress, and that moderate anterior insula activity reflects an optimal level of arousal that supports engaged fathering.

Keywords: androgen receptor; anterior insula; empathy; fMRI; fathers; prolactin.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

Adult
Attitude
Brain Mapping
Child, Preschool
Crying / psychology*
Emotions
Fathers / psychology*
Female
Genotype
Humans
Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
Infant
Male
Middle Aged
Oxygen / blood
Oxytocin / blood
Parent-Child Relations*
Parenting / psychology*
Prefrontal Cortex / anatomy & histology*
Prefrontal Cortex / blood supply
Prolactin / blood
Receptors, Androgen / genetics*
Self Report
Testosterone / blood
Young Adult

Substances

Receptors, Androgen
Testosterone
Oxytocin
Prolactin
Oxygen

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding