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Neurobiology of infant attachment: Attachment despite adversity and parental programming of emotionality

Abstract

We review recent findings related to the neurobiology of infant attachment, emphasizing the role of parenting quality in attachment formation and emotional development. Current findings suggest that the development of brain structures important for emotional expression and regulation (amygdala, prefrontal cortex, hippocampus) is deeply associated with the quality of care received in infancy, with sensitive caregiving providing regulation vital for programming these structures, ultimately shaping the development of emotion into adulthood. Evidence indicates that without sensitive caregiving, infants fail to develop mechanisms needed for later-life emotion and emotion regulation. Research suggests that a sensitive period exists in early life for parental shaping of emotional development, although further cross-species research is needed to discern its age limits, and thus inform interventions.

Introduction

Attachment, which is defined as the selective and enduring bond between individuals, occurs throughout the lifespan, encompassing both infant-caregiver attachment and adult romantic attachment. While substantial research has begun documenting the neurobiology of attachment, it has primarily focused on adult romantic attachment and adult attachment to their offspring. However, more recent research is exploring the neurobiology of infant attachment to the caregiver. Within the context of infant-caregiver attachment, the term "attachment" has traditionally been used to describe a complex and highly specific bond an infant forms to their caregiver by one year of age. However, newborns display highly specialized behaviors which can be characterized as bonding behaviors important for attachment formation, which we will discuss here.

In this state of the art review, we review human and animal model research published within the past five years that advances our understanding of the neurobiology of infant attachment formation and the unique role of the primary caregiver in guiding attachment and infant emotional development. Recent evidence supports a working model of early-life parental shaping of lifelong emotional development, with quality of care greatly affecting emotionality and emotion regulation throughout the life course. Continued cross-species research will further our understanding of the mechanisms by which parenting quality in early life programs brain structures underlying lifelong emotionality.

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