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

关于母亲依恋在与婴儿互动过程中对神经生物学反应的重要性知之甚少。为了解决这一差距，这项研究检查了母亲 (N = 139) 依恋表征与呼吸性窦性心律失常 (RSA) 动态变化之间的联系，同时在静止面部程序 (SFP) 中与婴儿互动。安全基础脚本知识 (SBSK) 较高的母亲在 SFP 期间表现出更高的 RSA 反应性，其特征是在正常游戏期间 RSA 较低，在静止面部期间 RSA 较高，在重聚期间 RSA 较低。研究结果表明，SBSK 较高的母亲表现出 RSA 反应，预期会在正常玩耍和团聚期间支持积极的行为应对——这与让婴儿参与社交互动的需要一致——而 RSA 在静止面孔期间的反应预期会支持努力使身体平静和在这种令人痛苦的社会混乱中同情他们的婴儿。研究结果促进了对成人依恋对照料神经生物学的重要性的认识。