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Immune and neuroendocrine correlates of temperament in infancy

Thomas G O'Connor1, Kristin Scheible1, Ana Vallejo Sefair1

  • 1University of Rochester.

Development and Psychopathology
|November 23, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Infant fearfulness at 17 months is linked to immune and neuroendocrine system markers. This study explores early biological correlates of temperament development in infants.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Science
  • Behavioral Biology
  • Psychoneuroimmunology

Background:

  • Integrating multiple levels of analysis is crucial in developmental science.
  • Early life temperament and its biological underpinnings are key research areas.
  • Understanding the interplay between behavior and biological systems offers insights into development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate associations between infant temperament and biological markers.
  • To examine longitudinal changes in these associations from 6 to 17 months.
  • To identify immune and neuroendocrine correlates of fearful temperament in infancy.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study of 123 infants assessed at 6 and 17 months.
  • Temperament assessed via observation and parent reports.
  • Innate immune system markers (cytokines) measured from serum.
  • Neuroendocrine functioning indexed by salivary cortisol reactivity.

Main Results:

  • Minimal associations between biological markers and temperament were found at 6 months.
  • By 17 months, significant, non-overlapping associations emerged between fearful temperament and immune/neuroendocrine markers.
  • These findings represent early evidence linking fear behavior to immune system correlates.

Conclusions:

  • Fearful temperament in infants shows robust biological correlates with the immune and neuroendocrine systems by 17 months.
  • These biological systems may play a role in the origins of behavioral development.
  • The study highlights the importance of a multi-level approach to understanding infant temperament.

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