Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 23, 2026

Experience is Instrumental in Tuning a Link Between Language and Cognition: Evidence from 6- to 7- Month-Old Infants' Object Categorization
05:35

Experience is Instrumental in Tuning a Link Between Language and Cognition: Evidence from 6- to 7- Month-Old Infants' Object Categorization

Published on: April 19, 2017

7.1K

Antenatal depression and the impact on infant cognitive, language and motor development at six and twelve months

Niamh O'Leary1, Chaitra Jairaj1, Eleanor J Molloy2

  • 1Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.

Early Human Development
|June 9, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Maternal depression during pregnancy is linked to lower infant motor skills at six months and language development at twelve months. Early intervention for maternal well-being is crucial for infant neurodevelopment.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Perinatal Mental Health

Background:

  • Antenatal depression is linked to adverse child outcomes, but its impact on infant neurodevelopment in the first year is understudied.
  • Existing research has not sufficiently explored the effects of maternal depression during pregnancy on infant development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of maternal Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) during pregnancy on infant cognitive, language, and motor development.
  • To assess these developmental outcomes at six and twelve months postpartum using a prospective longitudinal design.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective longitudinal study included pregnant women with MDD (n=23), a history of MDD (n=34), and a control group (n=43).
  • Maternal depression was assessed during pregnancy, and infant development (cognitive, language, motor) was measured at six and twelve months postpartum.

Main Results:

  • At six months, infants of mothers with MDD showed significantly lower motor development scores compared to controls, even after controlling for concurrent maternal depression.
  • At twelve months, infants in the MDD group exhibited lower language development scores, although this finding attenuated after controlling for maternal depression.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal depression during pregnancy is associated with impaired infant motor and language development in the first year.
  • These findings underscore the importance of early interventions for maternal mental health to support infant neurodevelopment.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Defining the Role Of Language in Infants' Object Categorization with Eye-tracking Paradigms07:31

Defining the Role Of Language in Infants' Object Categorization with Eye-tracking Paradigms

Published on: February 8, 2019

7.2K
Exploring Infant Sensitivity to Visual Language using Eye Tracking and the Preferential Looking Paradigm06:07

Exploring Infant Sensitivity to Visual Language using Eye Tracking and the Preferential Looking Paradigm

Published on: May 15, 2019

9.0K

Related Concept Videos

Language and Cognition01:27

Language and Cognition

Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
741
Language Development01:22

Language Development

Children master language quickly and with relative ease, supported by both biological predisposition and reinforcement. B. F. Skinner (1957) proposed that language is learned through reinforcement, while Noam Chomsky (1965) argued that language acquisition mechanisms are biologically determined.
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
877
Cognitive Development During Adulthood01:30

Cognitive Development During Adulthood

Cognitive development continues throughout adulthood, undergoing significant shifts across early, middle, and late stages. Individual transition occurs from adolescent idealism to pragmatic and adaptable thinking in early adulthood. During this period, individuals learn to integrate personal beliefs with the recognition that other perspectives are equally valid. Exposure to the complexities of modern society, diverse experiences, and higher education contribute to this adaptive thought process,...
822
Cognitive Development During Adolescence01:18

Cognitive Development During Adolescence

During adolescence, individuals experience significant cognitive development that enhances their understanding of others' emotions and thoughts, known as cognitive empathy. This period is marked by an increased ability to adapt to others' perspectives and a more nuanced understanding of others' mental states, a skill that is foundational for social problem-solving and conflict avoidance. The development of cognitive empathy relies heavily on the theory of mind — the...
538
Piaget's Stage 1 of Cognitive Development01:14

Piaget's Stage 1 of Cognitive Development

The sensorimotor stage, the initial phase of Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, spans the first two years of a child's life. During this period, infants actively engage with their surroundings, building cognitive awareness through direct interaction with the world. This interaction is primarily based on sensory perception and motor actions, allowing infants to gradually understand basic physical properties and predict how objects interact within their environment.
Exploration...
1.7K
Piaget's Stage 2 of Cognitive Development01:14

Piaget's Stage 2 of Cognitive Development

The preoperational stage, the second of Jean Piaget's four stages of cognitive development, spans approximately ages 2 to 7 and is characterized by the emergence of symbolic thinking. During this stage, children use language, images, and symbols to represent objects and concepts, enabling them to engage in imaginative and pretend play. This symbolic thinking supports children's ability to perform make-believe actions, such as imagining a broom as a horse or their hand as a phone, blending...
889