Attachment security and striatal functional connectivity in typically developing children

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Child Psychiatry

Background:

• Attachment security, established in early childhood, reflects internal relationship models.
• The striatum is crucial for attachment behaviors, reward processing, and approach behaviors.
• Previous research on striatal roles in attachment differences has limitations, especially in intrinsic brain connectivity of typically developing children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between attachment security and striatal functional connectivity in typically developing children.
• To explore how inter-individual differences in attachment security relate to brain connectivity patterns.

Main Methods:

• Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was employed.
• The study included 68 nine-year-old children (39 secure, 29 insecure attachment).
• Striatal functional connectivity was analyzed in relation to attachment security.

Main Results:

• Securely attached children showed increased functional connectivity in the temporo-limbic region compared to insecurely attached children.
• Child-reported attachment security scores correlated negatively with caudate-prefrontal connectivity.
• Attachment security scores correlated positively with putamen-visual area connectivity.

Conclusions:

• Inter-individual differences in attachment security are observable in the functional connectivity organization of the striatum.
• Findings highlight the striatum's role in the neural underpinnings of childhood attachment security.
• This study provides insights into the neurobiological basis of attachment in typical brain development.