Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 25, 2025
06:39
Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants
Published on: June 13, 2021
3.4K
Prenatal maternal mood entropy is associated with child neurodevelopment
Mariann A Howland1, Curt A Sandman2, Elysia Poggi Davis3
1Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota.
Emotion (Washington, D.C.)
|March 24, 2020
Summary
Maternal mood entropy, a measure of mood unpredictability during pregnancy, is linked to poorer child cognitive and language development. This finding highlights mood entropy as a novel predictor of neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Maternal Mental Health
Background:
- Early life experiences significantly shape brain development.
- Maternal mood dysregulation is a known factor influencing child development.
- Predictability of signals, including mood, may impact neurodevelopment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between maternal mood entropy and child neurodevelopmental outcomes.
- To explore mood entropy as a novel indicator of maternal mood dysregulation.
- To assess these associations in longitudinal cohorts.
Main Methods:
- Maternal mood was measured multiple times during pregnancy (from 15 weeks' gestation).
- Shannon's mood entropy was calculated from mood questionnaire responses.
- Child cognitive and language development were assessed at 2 and 6-9 years of age.
Main Results:
- Higher prenatal maternal mood entropy correlated with lower cognitive scores at 2 years.
- Higher prenatal maternal mood entropy was associated with lower expressive language scores at 6-9 years.
- These associations remained significant after controlling for confounding factors.
Conclusions:
- Maternal mood entropy is identified as a novel predictor of child neurodevelopment.
- Characterizing mood components beyond valence and severity offers deeper insights.
- Understanding mood entropy may elucidate mechanisms linking maternal mood to child development.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Socioemotional Development during Infancy
348
Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
Primary Temperament Types
348
01:28Human Genetics
1.3K
Human genetics provides a profound framework for understanding the interplay between genetic predispositions and human psychology. At the heart of this discipline lies the study of how genes influence physical traits, behaviors, and susceptibility to diseases. Each person carries a unique genetic code that subtly or significantly shapes their psychological and behavioral landscape.
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
1.3K
01:30Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
656
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
656
01:28Relationship with Parents: Attachment
169
Parent-child interactions lay the foundation for how we understand relationships throughout life. These interactions are not uniform across families; instead, they are shaped by a range of environmental, emotional, and behavioral factors unique to each caregiver-child dynamic. Social psychologists study these early relationships to understand how patterns formed in infancy influence social functioning and interpersonal behavior in adulthood.Attachment Theory and Early Relational ModelsJohn...
169