ABSTRACT

Little is known about the significance of mothers’ attachment for neurobiological responding during interactions with infants. To address this gap, this study examined links between mothers’ (N = 139) attachment representations and dynamic change in respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) while interacting with infants in the Still-Face Procedure (SFP). Mothers higher on secure base script knowledge (SBSK) exhibited greater RSA reactivity during the SFP characterized by lower RSA during normal play, higher RSA during the still-face, and lower RSA during reunion. Findings indicate that mothers higher on SBSK exhibit RSA responding expected to support active behavioral coping during normal play and reunion – consistent with the need to engage infants in social interaction – and RSA responding during the still-face expected to support efforts to calm the body and empathize with their infant during this distressing social disruption. Findings advance knowledge of the significance of adult attachment for the neurobiology of caregiving.

摘要

关于母亲依恋与婴儿互动过程中神经生物学反应的重要性，人们所知甚少。为了解决这一差距，本研究检查了母亲（N = 139）依恋表征与呼吸道窦性心律不齐（RSA）的动态变化之间的联系，同时还在婴儿面对面部程序（SFP）中进行了交互。具有较高安全基础脚本知识（SBSK）的母亲在SFP期间表现出更高的RSA反应性，其特征在于正常游戏时RSA较低，静止面部RSA较高，而团聚时RSA较低。研究结果表明，SBSK较高的母亲表现出RSA反应，期望在正常游戏和聚会期间支持积极的行为应对-符合使婴儿参与社交互动的需求-并且RSA反应在静止的脸部，期望能够支持使身体和身体平静的努力在这个令人不安的社会混乱中，同情他们的婴儿。研究结果提高了成人依恋对于护理神经生物学意义的知识。