Perception of infant cues :the role of childhood experiences and oxytocin

Abstract

In the present thesis we report our findings assessing individual differences in perception of infant signals due to early-life experiences and variability in the oxytocinergic system. We found that the perception of infant cues differs between individuals with fewer versus more experiences of emotional maltreatment (Chapter 5). These adverse experiences seem to change the activity and responsiveness of the oxytonergic system, such that higher levels of oxytocin are secreted, which in turn are associated with a more positive evaluation of infant mood (Chapter 2). Moreover, intranasal administration decreases the memory for negative infant cues in individuals who experienced childhood emotional maltreatment (Chapter 4). Our results may suggest that developmental changes in the oxytonergic system might help maltreated individuals to be open to new, potentially positive relationship experiences and to facilitate new attachments. Moreover, we suggest that reward training might be helpful in changing individuals__ perception of an infant for the better (Chapter 3). Overall, our findings might serve as a first step toward identifying cognitive and neurobiological mechanisms that might help to improve (future) parenting