Maternal Vocalizations Research Articles

Gaze Orienting in the Social World: An Exploration of the Role Played by Caregiving Vocal and Tactile Behaviors in Infants with Visual Impairment and in Sighted Controls.

Infant attention is a cognitive function that underlines sensory-motor integration processes at the interface between the baby and the surrounding physical and socio-relational environment, mainly with the caregivers. The investigation of the role of non-visual inputs (i.e., vocal and tactile) provided by the caregivers in shaping infants' attention in the context of visual impairment is relevant from both a theoretical and clinical point of view. This study investigated the social attention (i.e., gaze orientation) skills in a group of visually impaired (VI) and age-matched sighted controls (SCs) between 9 and 12 months of age. Moreover, the role of VI severity and maternal vocalizations and touch in shaping the social attention were investigated. Overall, 45 infants and their mothers participated in a video-recorded 4 min interaction procedure, including a play and a still-face episode. The infants' gaze orientation (i.e., mother-directed, object-directed, or unfocused) and the types of maternal vocalizations and touch (i.e., socio-cognitive, affective) were micro-analytically coded. Maternal vocalizations and touch were found to influence gaze orientation differently in VI infants compared SCs. Moreover, the group comparisons during the play episode showed that controls were predominantly oriented to the mothers, while VI infants were less socially oriented. Visual impairment severity did not emerge as linked with social attention. These findings contribute to our understanding of socio-cognitive developmental trajectories in VI infants and highlight the need for tailored interventions to promote optimal outcomes for VI populations.

The effect of telepractice on vocal turn-taking between a provider, children with cochlear implants, and caregivers: A preliminary report

Objectives To examine the effect of telepractice on vocal turn-taking between one clinical provider and children with cochlear implants and their caregivers during child-centered auditory rehabilitation intervention. Methods Seven dyads of children with cochlear implants (mean age 4:11 years) and their hearing mothers and one speech-language pathologist participated together in a telepractice session and an in-person intervention session. Dependent variables were vocalization rate, turn taking rate, rate of speech overlap per second, and between-speaker pause duration. Results The speech-language pathologist and children had lower rates of vocalization in the telepractice session than the in-person session. However, maternal vocalization rate was higher in the telepractice than in-person session. The rate of turn-taking between the provider and children was lower in telepractice than in-person sessions but the rate of turn taking between mothers and children was higher in telepractice than in-person sessions. Between-speaker pause duration between children and the provider and between mothers and children was longer in telepractice than in-person sessions. Rate of speech overlap did not vary significantly by session type. Discussion The quantity and temporal characteristics of vocal turn-taking were impacted by remote communication during tele-intervention suggesting a potential increase in the cognitive effort required of participants.

Vocalização Materna no Contexto da Prematuridade e UTI Neonatal: Uma Revisão Narrativa

he aim of this study was to examine empirical evidence published between 2015 and 2020, involving maternal vocalization and premature babies in the context of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Damiani, N. B., Piccinini, C. A.2Cadernos de Psicologia, Ribeirão Preto, vol. 1, nº 1, p. 1-21 - Abril/2022This is a narrative review of the literature found in PsycINFO, PubMed, LILACS, MEDLINE and CINAHL. Seventeen studies were included and analyzed according to the following categories: aims, participants, design, procedures and interventions, instruments and main results. It was observed that the vast majority of studies focuses on the diff erential impact of the mother’s voice, both speaking and singing, on the baby and uses an experimental or quasi-experimental design. The results reveal reduction in heart rate, increase in oxygen saturation, reduction in pain indicators and increased alertness in babies. Furthermore, babies exposed to the intervention using their mother’s voice in the NICU context had a signifi cant increase in auditory cortex thickness, and developed language skills compared to those exposed only to routine care. Studies investigating the characteristics of the maternal voice have reported an increase in tone and volume in the presence of a smile and the opening of the baby’s eyes, and greater emotional stability in mothers who used their voices. In general, the studies yield positive yet heterogeneous results concerning the maternal voice’s impact in this contex

The Interplay Between Prenatal Adversity, Offspring Dopaminergic Genes, and Early Parenting on Toddler Attentional Function.

Background: Few studies have explored the complex gene-by-prenatal environment-by-early postnatal environment interactions that underlie the development of attentional competence. Here, we examined if variation in dopamine-related genes interacts with prenatal adversity to influence toddler attentional competence and whether this influence is buffered by early positive maternal behavior.Methods: From the Maternal Adversity, Vulnerability and Neurodevelopment cohort, 134 participants (197 when imputing missing data) had information on prenatal adversity (prenatal stressful life events, prenatal maternal depressive symptoms, and birth weight), five dopamine-related genes (DAT1, DRD4, DRD2, COMT, BDNF), observed maternal parenting behavior at 6 months and parent-rated toddler attentional competence at 18 and 24 months. The Latent Environmental and Genetic Interaction (LEGIT) approach was used to examine genes-by-prenatal environment-by-postnatal environment interactions while controlling for sociodemographic factors and postnatal depression.Results: Our hypothesis of a three-way interaction between prenatal adversity, dopamine-related genes, and early maternal parenting behavior was not confirmed. However, consistent two-way interactions emerged between prenatal adversity and dopamine-related genes; prenatal adversity and maternal parenting behavior, and dopamine-related genes and maternal parenting behavior in relation to toddler attentional competence. Significant interaction effects were driven by the DAT1, COMT, and BDNF genotypes; prenatal stressful life events; maternal sensitivity, tactile stimulation, vocalization, and infant-related activities.Conclusions: Multiple dopamine-related genes affected toddler attentional competence and they did so in interaction with prenatal adversity and the early rearing environment, separately. Effects were already visible in young children. Several aspects of early maternal parenting have been identified as potential targets for intervention.

Music therapy enhances preterm infant’s signs of engagement and sustains maternal singing in the NICU

Hospitalized preterm infants are exposed to stressful stimuli and early parental separation, which can undermine their long-term development and mother-infant bonding. Family-centered music therapy can enable positive mother-infant interactions, mediated by maternal infant-directed singing. This study aimed to investigate the effects of music therapy on preterm infant’s signs of engagement, namely Eye Opening (EO) and Smiling (SM), and maternal vocalizations. Participants were 30 mother-preterm infant dyads in a Brazilian Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), divided into a Music Therapy Group (MTG) and a Comparison Group (CG). The MTG participated in 6 sessions of the Music Therapy Intervention for the Mother-Preterm Infant Dyad (MUSIP), with the aim of supporting maternal singing with the infant. Prior to discharge, all mothers were filmed during a Non-singing (NS) and Singing (S) interactional condition; in the S condition, mothers were explicitly asked to address their infants by singing. Results of video and audio analysis showed that infants in the MTG displayed greater Eye Opening (EO) frequency compared to CG, but only when they were in an initial awake state at test, suggesting that music therapy can potentialize infants’ alertness, by increasing their disposition and chances of being engaged in the interaction with the mother. Non-religious mothers appeared to sing significantly more in the MTG than in the CG. These preliminary findings indicate that music therapy in the NICU could promote infant’s signs of engagement during interactions and can sustain maternal singing, especially with non-religious mothers in Brazil.

The education word gap emerges by 18\u2009months: findings from an Australian prospective study

BackgroundThe idea of the ‘30 million word gap’ suggests families from more socioeconomically advantaged backgrounds engage in more verbal interactions with their child than disadvantaged families. Initial findings from the Language in Little Ones (LiLO) study up to 12 months showed no word gap between maternal education groups.MethodsFamilies with either high or low maternal education were purposively recruited into a five-year prospective study. We report results from the first three waves of LiLO when children were 6, 12 and 18 months old. Day-long audio recordings, obtained using the Language Environment Analysis software, provided counts of adult words spoken to the child, child vocalizations and conversational turns.ResultsBy the time children were 18 months old all three measures of talk were 0.5 to 0.7 SD higher among families with more education, but with large variation within education groups. Changes in talk from 6 to 18 months highlighted that families from low educated backgrounds were decreasing the amount they spoke to their children (− 4219.54, 95% CI -6054.13, − 2384.95), compared to families from high educated backgrounds who remained relatively stable across this age period (− 369.13, 95% CI − 2344.57, 1606.30).ConclusionsThe socioeconomic word gap emerges between 12 and 18 months of age. Interventions to enhance maternal communication, child vocalisations and vocabulary development should begin prior to 18 months.

Vocal imitation between mothers and their children with cochlear implants.

To better explain variation in language acquisition in children with hearing loss, this study examined vocal (e.g., vocalization) and lexical (e.g., word) imitation in spontaneous interactions between mothers and children with 12months of hearing experience using their cochlear implants (n=12; mean age 27.9months). Hearing children in two control groups were matched to children with cochlear implants, either by child chronological age (n=12; mean age=27.4months) or by child hearing experience (n=12; mean age 12months). All three groups of mother-child dyads were audio-recorded playing together. Mothers and children in all groups imitated their partners' vocalization and word utterances; however, the cochlear implant and hearing experience-matched groups produced fewer word imitations than the age-matched group. The frequency of preceding child vocalization or word production predicted maternal imitation type (vocalization or word); however, frequency of maternal vocalization predicted child vocalization imitation only. The results showed that child hearing experience affected imitation in both communication partners.

Chicks from stressed females elicit overprotective behaviour in adoptive mother quail

Beyond the genetic links between mother and young, prenatal effects experienced by offspring can modulate their mother’s behaviour and stress. Here we investigated the consequences of stress-induced prenatal maternal effects on quail chicks’ behaviour and maternal behaviour. We evaluated how adoptive quail mothers (unstressed) raised chicks of females that had either been stressed (PS) or were non-stressed (NPS) during laying. We demonstrated previously that our social stress procedure during laying increases levels of egg yolk steroid and chicks’ emotional reactivity during the postnatal period. We found that, compared to NPS mothers, PS mothers remained closer to their chicks, were aggressed and neglected them less, emitted more maternal vocalisations and called their chicks more when they were separated. Moreover, PS chicks made more requests on their mother. Our results show that mothers responded to chicks’ behavioural changes caused by prenatal stress by adapting their maternal behaviour. As exemplified here, for the first time in birds, prenatal environment can affect postnatal maternal behaviour by changing their offspring’s behaviour.

Interactive behaviors between mothers and their prematurely born infants in the face-to-face Still-Face Paradigm

Abstract The present study compared and correlated interactive behaviors of 15 mothers and their very preterm infants (gestational age: 28-32 weeks). Mothers and infants were observed in the experimental Face-to-Face Still-Face paradigm, consisting of three episodes: in the first and third episodes (play and reunion episodes), mother and infant interact freely; in the second (still-face episode), the mother maintains a still-face expression. The behaviors of the infants were allocated in three categories: positive social orientation, negative social orientation and self-regulation. Maternal behaviors were classified into positive and negative social orientation. Intragroup comparisons indicated that maternal vocalizations were significantly higher in the play episode. Compared to other studies with preterm infants, babies in this study exhibit fewer interactive behaviors and more self-soothing behaviors in the still-face episode. In addition, in the reunion episode, values of the behaviors presented in the play episode were recovered. Correlations between intrusive maternal behaviors and noninteractive or negative-interaction behaviors of the infant suggest the relevance of providing intervention to promote maternal sensitivity.

Pain, Parental Involvement, and Oxytocin in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Preterm infants (PTI) typically experience many painful and stressful procedures or events during their first weeks of life in a neonatal intensive care unit, and these can profoundly impact subsequent brain development and function. Several protective interventions during this sensitive period stimulate the oxytocin system, reduce pain and stress, and improve brain development. This review provides an overview of the environmental risk factors experienced by PTI during hospitalization, with a focus on the effects of pain, and early maternal separation. We also describe the long-term adverse effects of the simultaneous experiences of pain and maternal separation, and the potential beneficial effects of maternal vocalizations, parental contact, and several related processes, which appear to be mediated by the oxytocin system.

Effects of maternal artificial vocalization on hyperprolific lactating sows and piglets behavior.

The objective of this trial was to evaluate the behavioral patterns and performance of lactating sows and their litters under the effect of artificial vocalization. Twenty-eight sows and their litters were distributed in a completely randomized design in a 2x2 factorial scheme (artificial vocalization x lactation week). The behavior of the animals was monitored during 24 hours on the 7th and 15th days of lactation, analyzing the number, interval, and frequency of nursings. The body condition and performance of the sows were also evaluated. Artificial vocalization promoted higher frequencies of eating for sow and nursing for piglets (P <0.05), increased inactive sow behavior (P <0.05), and reduced sow alert in activity (P <0.05). The number and duration of suckling sessions at the 15thday of lactation were reduced (P <0.05). The use of artificial vocalization did not affect the body condition or milk production of the lactating sows, or the performance of the litter during lactation (P> 0.05). The use of maternal artificial vocalization during lactation of sows promoted greater lactation efficiency and longer rest time, favoring the sows' welfare.

Pre-linguistic infants employ complex communicative loops to engage mothers in social exchanges and repair interaction ruptures.

Language has long been identified as a powerful communicative tool among humans. Yet, pre-linguistic communication, which is common in many species, is also used by human infants prior to the acquisition of language. The potential communicational value of pre-linguistic vocal interactions between human infants and mothers has been studied in the past decades. With 120 dyads (mothers and three- or six-month-old infants), we used the classical Still Face Paradigm (SFP) in which mothers interact freely with their infants, then refrain from communication (Still Face, SF), and finally resume play. We employed innovative automated techniques to measure infant and maternal vocalization and pause, and dyadic parameters (infant response to mother, joint silence and overlap) and the emotional component of Infant Directed Speech (e-IDS) throughout the interaction. We showed that: (i) during the initial free play mothers use longer vocalizations and more e-IDS when they interact with older infants and (ii) infant boys exhibit longer vocalizations and shorter pauses than girls. (iii) During the SF and reunion phases, infants show marked and sustained changes in vocalizations but their mothers do not and (iv) mother–infant dyadic parameters increase in the reunion phase. Our quantitative results show that infants, from the age of three months, actively participate to restore the interactive loop after communicative ruptures long before vocalizations show clear linguistic meaning. Thus, auditory signals provide from early in life a channel by which infants co-create interactions, enhancing the mother–infant bond.

Postpartum depression in high-risk Brazilian women: psychosocial predictors and effects on maternal vocalization

ABSTRACTPsychosocial risk conditions can predict postpartum depression (PPD) which can reduce maternal investment into child. We examined, in high-risk Brazilian mothers, PPD predictors measured during pregnancy, and PPD effects on maternal behaviors measured at 4-5 months. 35 depressed (D) and 38 nondepressed (ND) mothers had four behaviors (gaze, smile, vocalization and touch) and three interaction styles (intrusive, withdrawn and good interaction) coded. At 4 months, 48% of mothers presented PPD. Lower levels of education, shorter pregnancy, higher marital conflict and greater prior history of depression were found as PPD predictors. D and ND mothers equally gazed, smiled and touched, while only D mothers vocalized less to their children. Thus, lower levels of education, shorter pregnancy, higher marital conflict and greater prior history of depression catalyzed PPD emergence. PPD reduced maternal investment through lower vocalization during early mother-infant interaction. Finally, both D and ND mothers mostly behaved as good interaction partners.

Deaths and symbolic use of language: Semiotics and thanatological reading of the film Nell

IntroductionPsychiatric disorders may become more severe when the subject is exposed to a hostile environment. Symptoms of mental malaise are expressed by the senses, including speech and language.MethodsThe method is used of semiotic analysis and thanatological movie.ObjectiveTo investigate the limit and death as a trigger of a singular mode of use of the spoken language. The problem presented in this paper is the linguistic system created by Nell.ResultsPartial results show that spoken language in this particular cut, becomes an instrument for dealing with the losses accumulated throughout his life. The life of isolation, restrictions on maternal vocalization, her mother's death and mourning acted as an inhibitor of language.ConclusionThe spoken language works like kaleidoscope of interactions of the individual with their group, with the medium in which it is inserted, with the set of beliefs that nourishes and with the world that she wants there, even if only in your intimate venue. Thus, demonstrating the sociolinguistic approach inalienable role in speech performance.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Brood size can influence maternal behaviour and chick’s development in precocial birds

Mothers have a crucial influence on offspring development. Variations of maternal behaviour can be due to numerous parameters, for instance costs are related to the size of a brood/litter, which in turn can influence the level of mothers’ investment in each offspring. Here we investigated the influence of brood size on the behaviour of Japanese quail mothers and chicks during the mothering period and on offspring development. We compared two types of broods: small broods of three chicks (N=9) and large broods of six chicks (N=9). Behavioural tests assessed chicks’ social and emotional traits. Mothers of large broods emitted more maternal vocalisations at the beginning of the mothering period, but at the end they assumed more non-covering postures and trampled chicks more than mothers of small broods. Chicks in large broods huddled up more whereas chicks in small broods rested alone more frequently. Moreover, the social motivation of chicks in large broods was higher than that of chicks in small broods, although their emotional reactivity levels were similar. Our results evidence the importance of brood size for maintaining family cohesion and the influence of brood size on chicks’ interactions with their siblings. We evaluated the influence of mothers and siblings on chicks’ behavioural development.

Maternal and infant affect at 4months predicts performance and verbal IQ at 4 and 7years in a diverse population.

Using existing longitudinal data from 570 infants in the Maternal Lifestyle Study, we explored the predictive value of maternal and infant affect and maternal vocalizations during 2minutes of face-to-face interactions at 4months on IQ scores at 4.5 and 7years. After controlling for demographic factors, maternal depression, and prenatal drug exposure, maternal positive affect and maternal positive vocalizations emerged as predictors of both verbal and performance IQ at 4.5 and 7years. Although infant positive affect during the interaction with the mother was not predictive of these outcome measures, infant positive affect towards an examiner predicted verbal but not performance IQ at 4.5years. These results suggest that maternal positive affect may index emotional engagement in interaction that facilitates both verbal and nonverbal cognitive development, while infant social positive affect is specifically related to the acquisition of verbal reasoning abilities. These findings are significant because they are based on a discrete snapshot of observable behavior in infancy (just 2minutes of interaction), because they extend the range of maternal behaviors and characteristics known to support positive developmental outcomes, and because they are derived from high-risk infants where prevention efforts may be beneficial. Potential mechanisms for these associations are discussed, as are the clinical implications for identifying dyads most in need of targeted interventions.

Breastfeeding duration and its relation to weight gain, eating behaviours and positive maternal feeding practices in infancy

Research examining the relationship between breastfeeding and infant weight has generated conflicting results. Few studies account for significant covariates and many suffer methodological problems such as retrospective self-report. The current study aimed to investigate relationships between breastfeeding duration, infant weight and eating and positive maternal mealtime behaviours, whilst overcoming many of the limitations of previous research. Eighty-one women on low-risk maternity units gave informed consent and were visited at home at 1-week, 1-, 6- and 12-months postpartum. Infants included 45 males and 36 females (mean birth-weight 3.52 kg [SD 0.39]). Mothers and infants were weighed and measured and feeding information was recorded at each visit. Infant weight was converted to a standard deviation score (SDS), accounting for age and sex. Mothers reported infant eating behaviours at 12-months using the Children's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire and were observed feeding their infants solid food at home at 6- and 12-months. Partial correlations (covariates: maternal age, education, BMI, smoking during pregnancy, household income, infant birth weight SDS and age introduced to solid foods) revealed negative associations between breastfeeding duration and 1- to 6- and 1- to 12-month weight gain, and 6- and 12-month weight. Breastfeeding duration was also associated with a slower rate of infant eating and greater observed maternal vocalisations, appropriateness and sensitivity. Results support a dose-response relationship between breastfeeding and infant weight and suggest that breastfeeding may encourage the development of obesity-protective eating behaviours through learning to attend to internal hunger and satiety signals. Future research should investigate whether relationships between slowness in eating and weight extend to satiety responsiveness after infancy.

Kangaroo supported diagonal flexion positioning: New insights into skin-to-skin contact for communication between mothers and very preterm infants

Skin-to-skin contact shows benefits in the relationship developed between a mother and her premature infant. In the skin-to-skin session, face-to-face exchanges are impossible in vertical infant positioning. We therefore undertook an observational, prospective, single-center study using kangaroo "supported diagonal flexion" (SDF) positioning. The first aim was to evaluate the safety of kangaroo SDF positioning compared to the usual vertical positioning. The second aim was to evaluate SDF positioning on early communication between the mother and her infant and to improve their well-being. Fifteen mothers and their very premature infants (birth 26<32 weeks' gestation) were assigned to one of the two kangaroo positioning modes, either the current vertical positioning (n=7) or SDF positioning (n=8). Physiological variables and critical events were recorded before, during, and after ten successive skin-to-skin contact sessions. The first and last sessions were videotaped to allow later behavioral measurements. Mothers' risk for depression and feelings about the way they experienced communication with their infant were assessed through questionnaires. In terms of the infant's physiology, no negative effects were associated with SDF positioning in comparison with the usual vertical positioning. SDF positioning led to fewer disorganized gestures, negative vocalizations, and drowsiness, in favor of more deep sleep. SDF led to more mother-infant eye-to-eye contact as well as maternal vocalizations, smiles, and caressing, although these differences did not reach significance. The score for the risk of postnatal depression decreased significantly between the first and the last session in the SDF group, whereas it did not change in the vertical positioning group. These results support the idea that the kangaroo SDF positioning technique is physiologically safe, has obvious immediate benefits on mothers' infant-directed communicative behaviors, and respects the baby's naturally flexed and asymmetrical tonic neck posture. It is an innovative, inexpensive, easy-to-use technique in daily practice, by all healthcare professionals working in a neonatal intensive care unit. These data suggest that the current kangaroo positioning technique could be improved. More studies are needed to confirm the benefits and safety of the kangaroo SDF positioning in larger groups of preterm infants.

Sex-dependent role of vesicular glutamate transporter 3 in stress-regulation and related anxiety phenotype during the early postnatal period

Stress and related disorders are in the focus of interest and glutamate is one of the most important neurotransmitters that can affect these processes. Glutamatergic neurons are characterized by vesicular glutamate transporters (VGluT1-3) among which vGluT3 is unique contributing to the non-canonical, neuromodulatory effect of glutamate. We aimed to study the role of vGluT3 in stress axis regulation and related anxiety during the early postnatal period using knockout (KO) mice with special focus on sex differences. Anxiety was explored on postnatal day (PND) 7-8 by maternal separation-induced ultrasonic vocalization (USV). Stress-hormone levels were detected 60 min after intraperitoneal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection 7 days later. Both genotypes gained weight, but on PND 14-15 KO mice pups had smaller body weight compared to wild type (WT). vGluT3 KO mice reacted to an immune stressor with enhanced adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and corticosterone secretion compared to WT. Although there was a tendency for enhanced anxiety measured by more emitted USV, this did not reach the level of significance. The only sex-related effect was the enhanced corticosterone reactivity in male pups. For the HPA axis regulation in neonates vGluT3 expression seems to be dispensable under basal conditions, but is required for optimal response to immune stressors, most probably through an interaction with other neurotransmitters. Disturbance of the fine balance between these systems may result in a borderline enhanced anxiety-like behavior in vGluT3 KO pups.

Maternal touch predicts social orienting in young children

This study explored the relationship between maternal touch and a child's spontaneous orienting towards social versus non-social information. Thirty-nine mothers and their 4–6year old children participated in a 10-min play session. Following this session, children completed an object categorization task with face and house distractors. A social orienting index (SOI) was quantified as increased distraction by faces relative to houses. The frequency of maternal touch positively predicted the SOI and some touch actions (e.g., holding) were more relevant for this than others (e.g., pushing). The frequency of maternal vocalizations, recorded as a control behavior, had a non-significant relation with the SOI but was negatively associated with the children's object categorization accuracy. Together, these results point to a specific role of tactile care in the development of social orienting and the emerging “social brain”.