Parenting, corpus callosum, and executive function in preschool children

Abstract

In this longitudinal population-based study (N = 544), we investigated whether early parenting and corpus callosum length predict child executive function abilities at 4 years of age. The length of the corpus callosum in infancy was measured using postnatal cranial ultrasounds at 6 weeks of age. At 3 years, two aspects of parenting were observed: maternal sensitivity during a teaching task and maternal discipline style during a discipline task. Parents rated executive function problems at 4 years of age in five domains of inhibition, shifting, emotional control, working memory, and planning/organizing, using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Preschool Version. Maternal sensitivity predicted less executive function problems at preschool age. A significant interaction was found between corpus callosum length in infancy and maternal use of positive discipline to determine child inhibition problems: The association between a relatively shorter corpus callosum in infancy and child inhibition problems was reduced in children who experienced more positive discipline. Our results point to the buffering potential of positive parenting for children with biological vulnerability.

Infant frontal EEG asymmetry in relation with postnatal maternal depression and parenting behavior

“…9 Likewise, influences of poor maternal parenting behaviors are comparable to those of postnatal maternal depression and include negative emotionality, 12 dysregulation of the stress responses, 13, 14 and poorer child behavior and socio-emotional function. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 Both maternal depression and parenting behaviors shape emotional and cognitive information, which affects child development in attention and memory as well as emotional reactivity of the central nervous system. 23 Nevertheless, limited research has investigated whether both independently or interactively influence child brain development, especially for brain regions associated with emotion.…”

“…31 Maternal sensitivity is found to predict a variety of childhood socio-emotional constructs. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 This includes attachment security, a construct reflective of whether infants manage distress by approaching or avoiding their mothers. 32, 33 Maternal sensitivity, may also be expected to influence offspring affective experience, as well as their approach-avoid patterns, which may shape the neural systems supporting approach.…”

What's parenting got to do with it: emotional autonomy and brain and behavioral responses to emotional conflict in children and adolescents

“…Considerable research demonstrates the positive impact of a healthy parent–child relationship on child development. Indeed, healthy parenting predicts greater cognitive functioning (Kok et al., ), improved emotion regulation (Manzeske & Stright, ), and increased brain gray matter volume in children (Kok et al., ). Recent studies have shown that healthy parenting during childhood may be protective against the development of emotional psychopathology (Lima et al., ; Lima, Mello, & Mari, ).…”

Normal Variation in Early Parental Sensitivity Predicts Child Structural Brain Development

“…Sensitive parental care, characterized by prompt and adequate response to the child's signals and needs, 15 predicts a more secure attachment relationship, 16 higher levels of cognitive competence, 17,18 and fewer psychological problems. 19,20 The association between sensitivity and more favorable outcomes in children has been demonstrated for both mothers and fathers.…”