Emotional expression and heart rate in high-risk infants during the face-to-face/still-face

Abstract

In infants, eye constriction—the Duchenne marker—and mouth opening appear to index the intensity of both positive and negative facial expressions. We combined eye constriction and mouth opening that co-occurred with smiles and cry-faces (respectively, the prototypic expressions of infant joy and distress) to measure emotional expression intensity. Expression intensity and heart rate were measured throughout the Face-to-Face/Still Face (FFSF) in a sample of infants with prenatal cocaine exposure who were at risk for developmental difficulties. Smiles declined and cry-faces increased in the still-face episode, but the distribution of eye constriction and mouth opening in smiles and cry-faces did not differ across episodes of the FFSF. As time elapsed in the still face episode potential indices of intensity increased, cry-faces were more likely to be accompanied by eye constriction and mouth opening. During cry-faces there were also moderately stable individual differences in the quantity of eye constriction and mouth opening. Infant heart rate was higher during cry-faces and lower during smiles, but did not vary with intensity of expression or by episode. In sum, infants express more intense negative affect as the still-face progresses, but do not show clear differences in expressive intensity between episodes of the FFSF.

Autonomic nervous system functioning assessed during the still-face paradigm: A meta-analysis and systematic review of methods, approach and findings

“…These results suggest that infants coping with the stresses associated with poverty and/or maternal psychopathy and risk have more difficulty reinstating the vagal brake than those babies raised in a low risk/ middle class environment. This review indicates that a number of factors may be associated with infants' failure to recover in the SFP including differences in parental behaviors, SES and high-risk factors such as maternal trauma (Bosquet Enlow et al, 2009;Bush et al, 2017;Busuito & Moore, 2017;Conradt & Ablow, 2010;Haley & Stansbury, 2003;Mattson et al, 2013;Suurland et al, 2016). Integrating across these findings, it makes sense that infants with sensitive parents would show vagal recovery upon reunion as their source of emotional regulation has re-engaged.…”

“…Note that all the infants in Mattson et al (2013) reported pre-natal exposure to tobacco, marijuana and alcohol; cocaine exposed infants did, however, have significantly higher exposure to marijuana and tobacco. Mattson et al (2013) confirmed that HR increased during the SF episode and remained elevated from the SF to reunion.…”

“…Although there were very few studies in this review that examined the association between substance use during pregnancy and infant ANS, one study did find that infants of mothers who reported "high drinking frequency" (HDF) showed higher HR, and increased negative affect in the SFP than infants of mothers in the "low drinking frequency" group (Haley et al, 2006). Mattson et al (2013) found no differences in HR between cocaine exposed and non-exposed infants; however, the authors posited that the level of cocaine exposure may have been insufficient to detect differences between exposed (n = 44; only 8 had been heavily exposed to prenatal cocaine use) and non-exposed (n = 49) infants. Note that all the infants in Mattson et al (2013) reported pre-natal exposure to tobacco, marijuana and alcohol; cocaine exposed infants did, however, have significantly higher exposure to marijuana and tobacco.…”

“…Mattson et al (2013) found no differences in HR between cocaine exposed and non-exposed infants; however, the authors posited that the level of cocaine exposure may have been insufficient to detect differences between exposed (n = 44; only 8 had been heavily exposed to prenatal cocaine use) and non-exposed (n = 49) infants. Note that all the infants in Mattson et al (2013) reported pre-natal exposure to tobacco, marijuana and alcohol; cocaine exposed infants did, however, have significantly higher exposure to marijuana and tobacco. Mattson et al (2013) confirmed that HR increased during the SF episode and remained elevated from the SF to reunion.…”

Epigenetic and Neural Circuitry Landscape of Psychotherapeutic Interventions

“…Misattunement in itself predicts subsequent disorganized attachment in the child [ 120 ], speaking to this internalization and “organizing” schema of how interpersonal relationships are negotiated moving forward. This can be noted when the mother looks at her child and shows signs of shame, fear, disgust, or dissociative phenomena, among others; this can have a profound impact on the child initially on a sensorimotor, autonomic, and affective level and eventually take on greater cognitive dimensions [ 121 , 122 ]. Attachment schema have been shown to be transmitted transgenerationally [ 123 , 124 ], and the maternal neurocircuitry template deployed in interpersonal interactions can be passed down also.…”