Subcortical structures and the neurobiology of infant attachment disorganization: A longitudinal ultrasound imaging study

Anne Tharner, Catherine Herba, Pieternel Luijk, Marinus IJzendoorn, MJ Bakermans-Kranenburg, Paul Govaert, Sabine Roza, Vincent Jaddoe, Bert Hofman, Frank Verhulst, Henning Tiemeier

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

25 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Attachment disorganization in infancy is a risk factor for behavior problems and other psychopathology. Traditionally the role of parental behavior for qualitative differences in early attachment relationships has been emphasized. However, disrupted infant-parent interactions only partly explain attachment disorganization. A complementary focus on child factors such as early differences in the underlying neurobiological systems is needed. We examined whether early structural differences in the gangliothalamic ovoid, comprising the basal ganglia and the thalamus, are involved in the etiology of infant attachment disorganization. Gangliothalamic ovoid diameter was measured by ultrasound in 6-week-old participants of a prospective population-based cohort study. Attachment classification of 629 of these infants was assessed with the strange situation at 14 months of age. Neurobiological differences within the normal range were prospectively associated with attachment disorganization. Infants with a larger gangliothalamic ovoid at 6 weeks had a lower risk of attachment disorganization at 14 months (OR = 0.73 per SD increase in diameter, 95% CI 0.57-0.93, p < .05). Volume of the lateral ventricles as an index of general brain development was not associated with attachment disorganization. These findings provide new insight into the etiology of infant attachment disorganization that may in part be neurodevelopmentally determined.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)336-347
Number of pages12
JournalSocial Neuroscience
Volume6
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2011

Research programs

  • ESSB PED
  • EMC MM-03-54-04-A
  • EMC MM-04-54-08-A
  • EMC NIHES-01-64-01
  • EMC NIHES-01-64-02
  • EMC NIHES-04-55-01

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