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The Default Mode Network Mediates the Impact of Infant Regulatory Problems on Adult Avoidant Personality Traits

Bäuml, Josef G., Baumann, Nicole, Avram, Mihai, Mulej Bratec, Satja, Breeman, Linda, Berndt, Maria, Bilgin, Ayten, Jaekel, Julia, Wolke, Dieter, Sorg, Christian and others. (2019) The Default Mode Network Mediates the Impact of Infant Regulatory Problems on Adult Avoidant Personality Traits. Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, 4 (4). pp. 333-342. ISSN 2451-9022. (doi:10.1016/j.bpsc.2018.11.005) (KAR id:82296)

Abstract

Background

Infant regulatory problems (RPs), i.e. problems with crying, feeding, and/or sleeping, are associated with behavioral and emotional problems in childhood. It is unclear, however, whether these behavioral and emotional problems persist into adulthood. The default mode (DMN) and salience networks (SN) support both interoceptive regulation and social/emotional abilities. We thus hypothesized that adults with infant RPs have more behavioral and emotional problems, mediated by DMN/SN alterations.

Methods

Within the scope of the Bavarian Longitudinal Study, adults (mean age 28 years; 50% females) with (N = 79) and without (N = 254) a history of multiple and/or persistent infant RPs were assessed by the Young Adult Self Report (YASR) to measure behavioral and emotional problems, and – in a sub-sample (N = 49 and N = 71) – by resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) to measure DMN/SN integrity via intrinsic functional connectivity (iFC).

Results

Compared to adults without infant RPs, adults with infant RPs had more total problems (p=0.002), internalizing problems (p = 0.005), and more avoidant personality traits (p < 0.001). They showed decreased iFC of the DMN and SN. DMN iFC-decreases were strongest in adults with multiple and persistent RPs and linked with avoidant personality traits (r = - 0.42, p = 0.006). Remarkably, DMN iFC-decrements fully mediated the association between infant RPs and adult avoidant personality traits.

Conclusions

Adults with infant RPs have more avoidant personality traits that are mediated by the DMN. Persistent/multiple infant RPs and the DMN may be targets to attenuate behavioral and emotional problems.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2018.11.005
Uncontrolled keywords: Allostatic–Interoceptive System, Behavioural and Emotional Problems, Default Mode Network, Infant Regulatory Problems, Salience Network, Young Adult Self Report
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Psychology
Depositing User: Ayten Bilgin
Date Deposited: 30 Jul 2020 12:15 UTC
Last Modified: 09 Dec 2022 06:34 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/82296 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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