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Microbiome-behavior coupling shapes infant adaptation to early maternal unpredictability.
Dima Amso1, Guilherme Fahur Bottino2, Tess T Forest1
1Department of Psychology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States.
Frontiers in Microbiology
|June 18, 2026
Summary
Infant visual orienting behavior (VOB) can buffer against negative effects of maternal unpredictability on inhibitory control. This adaptive strategy is linked to specific gut microbiome compositions and neuroactive gene potential in infants.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Microbiome Research
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Human infants display varied responses to environmental challenges.
- Maternal unpredictability is a key environmental factor influencing infant development.
- The gut microbiome's role in early neurodevelopment is increasingly recognized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the link between infant behavioral responses to maternal unpredictability and early inhibitory control.
- To explore the association between these behavioral responses, gut microbial composition, and neuroactive metabolic potential.
- To identify potential adaptive behavioral buffering strategies in infants facing environmental unpredictability.
Main Methods:
- Quantified maternal unpredictability via sensory signal transitions during mother-infant interactions (N=255).
- Assessed infant inhibitory control at 19-28 months.
- Analyzed gut microbial community composition and neuroactive gene potential in a subset of infants (n=87) using various factors including visual orienting behavior (VOB).
Main Results:
- Maternal unpredictability predicted poorer infant inhibitory control.
- Infants with high visual orienting behavior (VOB) under high unpredictability showed comparable inhibitory control to those with low unpredictability.
- VOB and feeding status were associated with gut microbial profiles, specifically along a Bifidobacterium axis and with microbial tryptophan and glutamate synthesis genes.
Conclusions:
- Infant visual orienting behavior (VOB) may act as an adaptive buffering strategy against maternal unpredictability's impact on inhibitory control.
- Gut microbial composition and neuroactive gene potential are associated with infant behavioral strategies and environmental unpredictability.
- These findings support a framework linking infant behavior, gut microbiome, and neuroactive potential in response to environmental challenges.
Keywords:
Bifidobacterium breveBifidobacterium longumbehaviorcaretaker-child interactioninfant gut microbiomematernal unpredictabilityphenotypic plasticityvisual orienting behaviorMore Related Videos
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