Cited by 773Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorAttachment and Relationship DynamicsInfant Health and Development

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 73 of the 76 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Adult attachment predicts maternal brain and oxytocin response to infant cues.

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Abstract

Infant cues, such as smiling or crying facial expressions, are powerful motivators of human maternal behavior, activating dopamine-associated brain reward circuits. Oxytocin, a neurohormone of attachment, promotes maternal care in animals, although its role in human maternal behavior is unclear. We examined 30 first-time new mothers to test whether differences in attachment, based on the Adult Attachment Interview, were related to brain reward and peripheral oxytocin response to infant cues. On viewing their own infant's smiling and crying faces during functional MRI scanning, mothers with secure attachment showed greater activation of brain reward regions, including the ventral striatum, and the oxytocin-associated hypothalamus/pituitary region. Peripheral oxytocin response to infant contact at 7 months was also significantly higher in secure mothers, and was positively correlated with brain activation in both regions. Insecure/dismissing mothers showed greater insular activation in response to their own infant's sad faces. These results suggest that individual differences in maternal attachment may be linked with development of the dopaminergic and oxytocinergic neuroendocrine systems.

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  1. Abidin RR (1995). Parenting Stress Index, Professional Manual. Psychological Assessment Resources: Lutz, FL.
  2. George C, Kaplin N, Main M (1996). Adult Attachment Interview (third edition). (Unpublished manuscript).

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Metadata

Authors
Strathearn, L., Fonagy, P., Amico, J., & Montague, P. R.
Affiliations
  • Baylor College of Medicine (US)
  • University of Pittsburgh (US)
Corresponding author
Strathearn, Lane
Venue
Neuropsychopharmacology
Published
2009-08-26
Volume
34
Issue
13
Pages
2655-2666
ISSN
  • 0893-133X (ISSN-L)
  • 1740-634X
OpenAlex
W2163081513
Cited by
773
References
76
Citations by year
2026: 21 · 2025: 44 · 2024: 31 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 54 · 2020: 81 · 2019: 51 · 2018: 45 · 2017: 63 · 2016: 52 · 2015: 47 · 2014: 58 · 2013: 66 · 2012: 55
FWCI
53.31
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Neuropsychopharmacology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (DA 11723, R01DA011723)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R01NS045790, NS045790)
  • National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
  • National Center for Research Resources (MO1-RR-00188, M01RR000188)
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (K12HD041648, K23HD043097)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Infant Health and Development
Keywords
adult attachment, maternal behavior, oxytocin, brain reward, ventral striatum, insula, infant facial expressions, insecure attachment, dopamine, neuroendocrine system, primiparous women
MeSH terms
Adult, Brain, Brain Mapping, Cues, Epinephrine, Facial Expression, Female, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Infant, Mother-Child Relations, Mothers, Norepinephrine, Object Attachment, Oxytocin, Reward

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