The DOI matches its Crossref record; 94 of the 94 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Social regulation of the cortisol levels in early human development
Abstract
Other papers in this special edition provide evidence to implicate activity of the limbic hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (L-HPA) system in the etiology of drug and alcohol abuse. Furthermore, studies in rodents and primates suggest that responsivity and regulation of this system later in life may be shaped by social experiences during early development. Cortisol is the major hormonal product of the L-HPA system in humans. Although it provides only a partial understanding of the activity of this neuroendocrine axis, its regulation may bear importantly on human growth and development. We review developmental studies of cortisol and behavior in human children, birth to approximately 5 years of age. We describe the development of social buffering of cortisol responses that produces a functional analogue of the rodent stress hyporesponsive period by the time children are about 12 months of age. We further describe the sensitivity of cortisol activity to variations in care quality among infants and toddlers, along with evidence that children with negative emotional temperaments may be most likely to exhibit elevations in cortisol under conditions of less than optimal care. Finally, the few studies of cortisol activity under conditions of neglectful and abusive care of young children are considered, noting that these often have yielded evidence of reduced rather than increased cortisol levels.
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“Studies show that infants begin to exhibit dampened cortisol reactivity during the first year of life (6–12 months) (Gunnar and Donzella, 2002, Gunnar et al., 2015).”
From Early life adversity during the infant sensitive period for attachment: Programming of behavioral neurobiology of threat processing and social behavior (2017) · cites this paper as Gunnar and Donzella, 2002
In the citing paper
“For example, in children, the presence of a caregiver can have a buffering effect, reducing emotional and stress responses to negative stimuli [48,49].”
From The neuroscience of emotion regulation development: Implications for education (2016) · cites this paper as [49]
In the citing paper
“While we know that educators and caregivers can help reduce negative emotions in children – and adolescents may be especially sensitive to the influence of their peers – little is known about how such behavioral effects relate to the development of underlying neural systems.”
From The neuroscience of emotion regulation development: Implications for education (2016) · cites this paper as [49]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Gunnar, M. R., & Donzella, B.
- Affiliations
- University of Minnesota (US)
- Corresponding author
- Gunnar, Megan R.
- Venue
- Psychoneuroendocrinology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2002-01
- Volume
- 27
- Issue
- 1-2
- Pages
- 199-220
- ISSN
- 0306-4530 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2158279716
- Cited by
- 1,088
- References
- 88
- Citations by year
- 2026: 21 · 2025: 29 · 2024: 39 · 2023: 41 · 2022: 35 · 2021: 73 · 2020: 53 · 2019: 48 · 2018: 52 · 2017: 54 · 2016: 64 · 2015: 66 · 2014: 62 · 2013: 73 · 2012: 54
- FWCI
- 7.84
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychoneuroendocrinology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Keywords
- cortisol, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, social buffering, early childhood development, emotional temperament, stress hyporesponsive period, child neglect, child abuse, neuroendocrine regulation
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Child, Child Development, Child, Preschool, Female, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Infant, Male, Social Environment
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