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Physiol Behav. Increased levels of OT in the early postnatal period have been shown to affect behavior and physiology … and these effects last into adulthood, suggesting an organizational role for OT during development. Research demonstrating how oxytocin is capable of moderating reactivity in a key stress response system in the brain HPA axis. Research demonstrating the long-term anti-stress effect of repeated activation of oxytocin.
Consequently, oxytocin may be involved in physiological and behavioural effects induced by social interaction in a more general context … oxytocin [Page ] exerts potent physiological antistress effects … Cortisol levels are decreased and insulin and cholecystokinin levels are increased … After repeated oxytocin treatment weight gain may be promoted and the healing rate of wounds increased. Sunderland, Positive social interactions have been related to health promoting effects.
Research demonstrating how repeated activation of oxytocin is linked to long term effects of lowering blood pressure and decreasing corticosterone levels, with a resulting improved capacity to manage stress. Research demonstrating that high levels of touch in childhood resulted in improved responses to acute stress and lower levels of stress chemicals in later life. Maternal care, hippocampal glucocorticoid receptors, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal responses to stress. Research demonstrating how the activation of opioids in the brain e. The biology of social attachments: opiates alleviate separation distress.
Biol Psychiatry.
Since reductions in crying could be obtained with morphine in the absence of any gross behavioural disturbances, the possibility is entertained that brain opiates may function to control the intensity of emotions arising from social separation. In contrast low levels of touch in childhood resulted in increased fearfulness in later life and increased stress reactivity.
Research also demonstrating that comforting maternal behaviour has a profound influence on GABA gene expression in parts of the brain, thus enabling children to be far less vulnerable to developing anxiety disorders in later life. Early stress can actually alter the development of the GABA receptor system in the brain that mediate stress reactivity. Neuropsychopharmacology, 28, — Under conditions of stress, the offspring of mothers who showed an increased frequency of [physical contact of their infants] exhibit more modest pituitary-adrenal responses and decreased fearfulness compared with the offspring of [low physical contact].
The increased stress reactivity of the adult offspring of [low physical contact]. In the current studies we provide evidence for a profound influence of maternal behaviour on GABBA receptor subunit gene expression that is most apparent in the basolateral and central nuclei of the amygdala, regions that are crucial for behavioural and autonomic expressions of fear Schafe et al. The findings are consistent with those of pharmacological measures of BZ receptor sensitivity.
Subjects high on measures of neuroticism show reduced sensitivity to the BZ receptor agonist, midazolam Glue et al. Patients with panic attacks or high levels of general anxiety show decreased sensitivity to BZ-induced amnesia sedation, and dampening of noradrenergic function compared with controls Melo de Paula ; Oblowitz and Robins, These findings suggest that early life events might alter the development of the GABAA receptor system in brain regions that mediate stress reactivity, and thus contribute to individual differences in vulnerability to anxiety disorders Gorman et al.
Maternal care influence the development of stress reactivity in the offspring. These effects are accompanied by changes in corticotropin — releasing factor CRF expression in brain regions that regulate responses to stress. Research demonstrating that touch in early childhood resulted in less fear and better mothering capacities in adulthood.
Rats receiving high levels of licking and grooming as pups are less fearful and more maternal than rats receiving low levels of maternal licking and grooming. Central pathways for oxytocin and vasopressin have been implicated in the neurobiology of anxiety and social behaviours.
We assessed whether variations in maternal care associated with differences in oxytocin receptors OTR or vasopressin V1a receptors in the brain of adult offspring. In the central nucleus of the amygdala and bed nucleus of the stria terminals, OTR binding was increased in adult females, that had received high levels of maternal licking and grooming as pups. Research demonstrating that high levels of touch in childhood positively effects the child's capacity to handle stress well in adulthood.
This is due to long term changes in brain mechanisms that modulate stress reactivity. Neurobiology of mother — infant interactions; experience and central nervous system plasticity across development and generations. Flemming, D. O'Day, G. Reductions in stress reactivity are attributable in part to the increased density of hippocampal glucocorticoid receptors.
These receptors normally mediate negative feedback effects of circulating adrenal glucocorticoids following hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal HPA activation. Stimulation-induced changes in thyroid function and brain serotonin system activity early in the postpartum period are also involved in these long-term hippocampal effects.
Hence, long-term changes in brain mechanisms that modulate the stress reactivity in offspring are produced by natural variations in mothering behaviour.
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In vervet monkeys, there is substantial evidence that the style of mothering exhibited by adult daughters is similar to the style of mothering shown by their mothers. Vervet monkey mothers who engage in a high level of mother-infant ventral contact have daughters who also show high mother-infant contact. Abusive patterns of maternal care span generations as well, and the incidence of abuse varies [Page ] across matrilines in pigtail macaques.
Among humans, it is commonly assumed that there are often intergenerational similarities in maternal behaviour. Research demonstrating that touch activates oxytocin which then moderates the effect of stress chemicals. Effects of different psychological stimuli on oxytocin OT and vasopression AVP secretion are reviewed in animals and humans.
The secretion of neuropituitary hormones is also discussed in various psychiatric diseases such as anorexia nervosa, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and obsessive — compulsive disorder. Either an increase or decrease of the HPA function have been described in several illnesses … Underweight patients with anorexia nervosa have [vasopression] and reduced OT levels. These modifications could enhance the retention of cognitive distortions of aversive consequences of eating. Research demonstrating that infants receiving high levels of physical contact were less fearful in adulthood.
The touch altered the development of the neural systems in the brain that mediate fearfulness. Maternal care … regulates the development of neural systems mediating the expression of fearfulness in the rat. Caldji, C. In addition, the adult offspring of the high [physical contact] mothers showed significantly i increased central benzodaizepine receptor density in the central, lateral and baslateral nuclei of the amygdala as well as in the locur ceruleus.
Research demonstrating how evoking an image of a calming other, in their absence can activate oxytocin in the brain. Neuroendocrine perspectives on social attachment and love. Social interactions and attachment involve endocrine systems capable of decreasing HPA reactivity and modulating the autonomic nervous system, perhaps accounting for health benefits that are attributed to loving relationships. Research demonstrating that massage reduces psychological distress, and brings down blood pressure.
The effects of back massage before diagnostic cardiac catheterisation.
Altern Ther Health Med. A minute back massage appeared to reduce systolic blood pressure, respiration, perceived psychological distress, and pain in patients awaiting a diagnostic cardiac catheterisation,. Research demonstrating that the more touch in childhood the less fearful the offspring. Neuropsychopharmacology 28, —, advance online publication, 23 July In the current studies, we provide evidence for a profound influence of maternal behaviour on GABA receptor subunit gene expression that is most apparent in the basolateral and central nuclei of the amygdala, regions that are crucial for behavioural and autonomic expressions of fear Schafe et al, Surprisingly, only a minority 30 of humans subjected to even profound trauma develop PTSD.
Research demonstrating that the activation of opioids in the amygdala has been shown to reduce stress chemicals in the brain. Ketter, MD; Joshua A. Kilbourn, PhD; Elizabeth A. Young, MD; Robert A. Koeppe, PhD. Studies of pair bonding in monogamous rodents, such as prairie voles, and maternal attachment in precocial ungulates offer the most accessible animal models for the study of mechanisms underlying selective social attachments and the propensity to develop social bonds. Positive social behaviours, including social bonds, may reduce HPA axis activity, while in some cases negative social interactions can have the opposite effect.
Central neuropeptides, and especially oxytocin and vasopressin have been implicated both in social bonding and in the central control of the HPA axis. In prairie voles, which show clear evidence of pair bonds, oxytocin is capable of increasing positive social behaviours and both oxytocin and social interactions reduce activity in the HPA axis. A national charity committed to empowering children and young people in public care and to campaign for change to improve their lives.
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