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Variability in the expression and perception of positive affect in human infancy

Tobias Grossmann1, Adrienne Wood1

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA.

Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience
|September 27, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Genetic variations in the oxytocin system influence how infants express positive emotions. This impacts their brain

Area of Science:

  • Developmental psychology
  • Neurogenetics
  • Social neuroscience

Background:

  • Positive emotions are crucial for social development and behavior.
  • The oxytocin system plays a role in social bonding and emotional regulation.
  • Individual differences in emotional expression emerge early in infancy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the link between genetic variations in the oxytocin system and the expression of positive affect in infants.
  • To explore the neurobiological underpinnings of individual differences in positive emotional displays.

Main Methods:

  • Examined genetic variation in CD38 (rs3796863), associated with oxytocin release.
  • Assessed positive affective displays (smiling, laughter) in 7-month-old infants using parent-report measures.
  • Measured infant brain responses in the right inferior frontal cortex using EEG when viewing smiles.

Main Results:

  • Infants with specific CD38 genetic variations showed higher rates of positive emotional expression.
  • Increased positive affect was correlated with enhanced brain activity in the right inferior frontal cortex when viewing smiles.
  • These findings suggest a genetic influence on the perception-action coupling of positive social cues.

Conclusions:

  • Genetic variability in the oxytocin system influences infant positive affect expression.
  • Early-life genetic factors are associated with individual differences in perceiving positive social cues.
  • This research sheds light on the neurobiological basis of positive emotion variability in infancy.

Keywords:
CD38braininfant temperamentoxytocinpositive emotion

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