Prenatal influences on temperament development: The role of environmental epigenetics

Abstract

This review summarizes current knowledge and outlines future directions relevant to questions concerning environmental epigenetics and the processes that contribute to temperament development. Links between prenatal adversity, epigenetic programming, and early manifestations of temperament are important in their own right, also informing our understanding of biological foundations for social-emotional development. In addition, infant temperament attributes represent key etiological factors in the onset of developmental psychopathology, and studies elucidating their prenatal foundations expand our understanding of developmental origins of health and disease. Prenatal adversity can take many forms, and this overview is focused on the environmental effects of stress, toxicants, substance use/psychotropic medication, and nutrition. Dysregulation associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity-disruptive disorders was noted in the context of maternal substance use and toxicant exposures during gestation, as well as stress. Although these links can be made based on the existing literature, currently few studies directly connect environmental influences, epigenetic programming, and changes in brain development/ behavior. The chain of events starting with environmental inputs and resulting in alterations to gene expression, physiology, and behavior of the organism is driven by epigenetics. Epigenetics provides the molecular mechanism of how environmental factors impact development and subsequent health and disease, including early brain and temperament development.

Modeling development of frontal electroencephalogram (EEG) asymmetry: Sex differences and links with temperament

“…Yet the sex‐dependent pattern of results is also consistent with extensive evidence from animal studies indicating that dimorphic behaviors are common in sexually reproducing species and result from neural circuits developmentally programmed to be different in males and females (Morris, Jordan, & Breedlove, ; Wu & Shah, ). Some of this programming in humans appears to be a function of prenatal influences that shape sex differences in temperament development, likely via epigenetic processes (Gartstein & Skinner, ). For example, in utero exposure to high levels of androgens was linked to later externalizing difficulties (e.g., ADHD; Martel, Klump, Nigg, Breedlove, & Sisk, ) more common in boys, and could contribute to sex differences in approach/avoidance related frontal EEG developmental patterns.…”

A biopsychosocial approach to processes and pathways in the development of overweight and obesity in childhood: Insights from developmental theory and research

“…For example, there is evidence about the effects of prenatal adversity such as stress, toxicants, substance abuse, and nutrition on disruptive child behavior, possibly through epigenetic effects, brain development, and temperament. 184 The fetal environment has also received attention, for example, maternal smoking has been associated with child executive function 185 and links between neonatal DNA methylation and early onset conduct disorders have been examined. 186 Psychophysiological correlates of aggressive behavior in the form of brain dysfunction and impairments in brain systems have been identified.…”

Periconceptional Maternal Mediterranean Diet Is Associated With Favorable Offspring Behaviors and Altered CpG Methylation of Imprinted Genes

“…Numerous prenatal environmental exposures including smoking, stress, maternal obesity, and dietary factors have been associated with health and neurodevelopmental outcomes in children ( Huizink et al, 2002 ; Wiebe et al, 2009 ; Steenweg-de Graaff et al, 2012 ; Gartstein and Skinner, 2017 ), with some exposures conferring life-long associations ( House et al, 2016 ; Wyss et al, 2017 ). In a recent meta-analysis, pre-pregnancy obesity was estimated to be associated with a 51% increased risk of any neurodevelopmental impairment and a 62% increased risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms or ADHD related impairments ( Sanchez et al, 2017 ).…”