Social Smiling and Laughter Are Linked to Enhanced Functional Brain Connectivity in Young Infants' Default Mode
Olivia Allison1, Caroline Kelsey2,3, Tobias Grossmann1
1Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
Abstract:
The current study used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to investigate whether and how individual differences in positive social engagement among 5-month-old (N = 109; N = 35 final sample) infants relate to variability in functional connectivity in the human brain's Default-Mode Network (DMN). Neuroimaging results showed that on average infants displayed greater functional connectivity in the right than in the left hemisphere of the DMN, adding to prior work indicating faster connectivity development in the right hemisphere. Results did not show any positive associations between our preregistered measures of positive social engagement and functional connectivity in the DMN. However, an additional analysis revealed that higher levels of infants' smiling and laughter during daily social interactions with their caregivers positively predicted DMN functional connectivity in the left hemisphere. This suggests that individual differences in connectivity in a long-range brain network implicated in a host of social and cognitive functions are associated with some aspects of infants' positive social-interactive behaviors.
Related Concept Videos
Socioemotional Development during Infancy
Primary Temperament Types
Nonconscious Mimicry
Functional Brain Systems: Limbic System
Functional Brain Systems: Reticular Formation
Within the reticular formation, there are several distinct nuclei that can be classified into three broad categories. The Raphe nuclei are located along the midline of the brainstem. They are primarily known for their role in synthesizing and releasing serotonin, a neurotransmitter involved in regulating mood, appetite, sleep, and circadian rhythms. The...
Facial Feedback Hypothesis
Brain Imaging
These technologies include computerized axial tomography (CAT or CT scans), positron-emission tomography (PET scans), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and Transcranial Magnetic...


