Frontal brain electrical activity in infants of depressed and nondepressed mothers: Relation to variations in infant behavior
Frontal brain electrical activity in infants of depressed and nondepressed mothers: Relation to variations in infant behavior
复制标题
DOI：
10.1017/s0954579499002229
复制
发表时间：
1999-06-01
影响因子：
3.3
通讯作者：
Rinaldi, J
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Dawson, G;Frey, K;Rinaldi, J
在先前的研究中，抑郁症母亲的婴儿被发现表现出左额叶脑电活动（EEG）减少。左额叶区域已被假设调解社会接近行为和积极的情感表达。这些发现提出了关于抑郁症母亲所生婴儿的非典型脑电图模式的原因和性质的重要问题。本研究通过考察抑郁母亲和非抑郁母亲所生婴儿的额叶脑活动模式的变化是否与在自然情境下观察到的婴儿行为变化有关，从而开始解决其中的一些问题。如果存在这种关系，它们是否特定于某些假设由额叶区域调节的行为（即积极的接近行为）？研究人员记录了14到15个月大的婴儿的额叶和顶叶脑电活动，这些婴儿的母亲患有抑郁症，而母亲没有抑郁症，在基线条件下，以及在设计引起兴趣和积极影响的条件下。在有母亲和没有母亲的自然游戏条件下观察婴儿的行为，并在单独的一天进行脑电图休息。母亲们提供了婴儿性情的信息。抑郁母亲的婴儿对母亲的感情和触摸较少。研究发现，只有母亲患有抑郁症的婴儿，其左额叶脑活动减少与对母亲的情感水平降低有关，但与婴儿的性情无关。此外，增加的广义额叶激活被发现与更高水平的负面情绪、敌意、发脾气和攻击有关。在顶叶脑电图活动中未发现婴儿脑活动与行为之间的关系。这些结果表明，婴儿额叶脑电活动与婴儿行为的变化有关，特别是与积极的附属行为和消极情绪的表达和调节有关。脑活动的非典型模式的性质和原因，以及是否这种非典型模式的大脑额叶活动倾向于婴儿情感障碍在以后的生活问题进行了讨论。
In previous studies, infants of depressed mothers have been found to exhibit reduced left frontal brain electrical activity (EEG). The left frontal region has been hypothesized to mediate social approach behaviors and positive affective expression. These findings raise important questions about the cause and nature of atypical EEG patterns in infants of depressed mothers. The present study begins to address some of these questions by examining whether or nor variations in patterns of frontal brain activity in infants of depressed and nondepressed mothers are related to variations in infant behavior as observed in naturalistic situations. If such relations exist, are they specific to certain behaviors hypothesized to be mediated by the frontal region (i.e., positive approach behaviors)? Frontal and parietal brain electrical activity was recorded from 14- to 15-month old infants of depressed versus nondepressed mothers during a baseline condition and during conditions designed to elicit interest and positive affect. Infant behavior was observed in naturalistic play conditions, with and without mother, on a separate day from EEG resting. Mothers provided information on infant temperament. Infants of depressed mothers showed less affection and touching of their mothers. For infants of depressed mothers only, reduced left frontal brain activity was found to be related to lower levels of affection toward mother, but not to infant temperament. Furthermore, increased generalized frontal activation was found to be related to higher levels of negative affect, hostility, and tantrums and aggression. Relations between infant brain activity and behavior were not found for parietal EEG activity. These results suggest that infant frontal electrical brain activity is related to variations in infant behavior, especially those involved in positive affiliative behavior and the expression and regulation of negative affect. The nature and cause of atypical patterns of brain activity and question of whether such atypical patterns of frontal brain activity predispose infants to affective disorders in later life are discussed.