Stefano Bembich, Elena Castelpietra, Jenny Bua, Enrica Causin, Chiara Pavan, Francesca Marrazzo, Laura Travan
{"title":"Cerebral Synchronization Between Mothers and Their Newborns During Breastfeeding.","authors":"Stefano Bembich, Elena Castelpietra, Jenny Bua, Enrica Causin, Chiara Pavan, Francesca Marrazzo, Laura Travan","doi":"10.1089/bfm.2023.0307","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Breastfeeding is a fundamental biological function in mammals, allowing the progeny to develop in a physiological way. A physical and emotional dialog between mothers and offspring during breastfeeding has been described as part of the attachment relationship, and a synchronicity between maternal and neonatal brains can be hypothesized. This study aimed to assess if neonatal and maternal cortical areas activated during breastfeeding are functionally synchronized since the second day of life. <b><i>Materials and Methods:</i></b> Twenty mothers and their term newborns were enrolled. Cortical activation during breastfeeding was identified by multichannel near-infrared spectroscopy, which detects changes in haemoglobin concentration from multiple cortical regions. Functional activity was simultaneously detected (hyperscanning) in mothers and newborns' frontal and motor/primary somatosensory cortical areas during the first 5 minutes of breastfeeding. Cluster analysis and Student's <i>t</i> test were used to detect oxygenated haemoglobin increase, as cortical activation estimate. Wavelet transform coherence (WTC) analysis was used to identify a possible synchronization between maternal and neonatal activated cortical regions. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Mothers showed an activation of the central motor/primary somatosensory cortex, above the sagittal fissure. In newborns, the bilateral frontal cortex was activated. WTC analysis revealed two different cyclical synchronizations between mothers and infants' activated cortical regions. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Such evidence may reflect a very early common sharing of experiences, possibly associated with reciprocal dynamic motor adjustments, hormonal coregulation, and somatic stimulations and sensations. The observed cyclical neural synchronization, between the mother and her newborn's cortex during breastfeeding, may play an important role in promoting their bonding.</p>","PeriodicalId":9142,"journal":{"name":"Breastfeeding Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.1000,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Breastfeeding Medicine","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1089/bfm.2023.0307","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2024/7/26 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction: Breastfeeding is a fundamental biological function in mammals, allowing the progeny to develop in a physiological way. A physical and emotional dialog between mothers and offspring during breastfeeding has been described as part of the attachment relationship, and a synchronicity between maternal and neonatal brains can be hypothesized. This study aimed to assess if neonatal and maternal cortical areas activated during breastfeeding are functionally synchronized since the second day of life. Materials and Methods: Twenty mothers and their term newborns were enrolled. Cortical activation during breastfeeding was identified by multichannel near-infrared spectroscopy, which detects changes in haemoglobin concentration from multiple cortical regions. Functional activity was simultaneously detected (hyperscanning) in mothers and newborns' frontal and motor/primary somatosensory cortical areas during the first 5 minutes of breastfeeding. Cluster analysis and Student's t test were used to detect oxygenated haemoglobin increase, as cortical activation estimate. Wavelet transform coherence (WTC) analysis was used to identify a possible synchronization between maternal and neonatal activated cortical regions. Results: Mothers showed an activation of the central motor/primary somatosensory cortex, above the sagittal fissure. In newborns, the bilateral frontal cortex was activated. WTC analysis revealed two different cyclical synchronizations between mothers and infants' activated cortical regions. Conclusions: Such evidence may reflect a very early common sharing of experiences, possibly associated with reciprocal dynamic motor adjustments, hormonal coregulation, and somatic stimulations and sensations. The observed cyclical neural synchronization, between the mother and her newborn's cortex during breastfeeding, may play an important role in promoting their bonding.
期刊介绍:
Breastfeeding Medicine provides unparalleled peer-reviewed research, protocols, and clinical applications to ensure optimal care for mother and infant. The Journal answers the growing demand for evidence-based research and explores the immediate and long-term outcomes of breastfeeding, including its epidemiologic, physiologic, and psychological benefits. It is the exclusive source of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine protocols.
Breastfeeding Medicine coverage includes:
Breastfeeding recommendations and protocols
Health consequences of artificial feeding
Physiology of lactation and biochemistry of breast milk
Optimal nutrition for the breastfeeding mother
Breastfeeding indications and contraindications
Managing breastfeeding discomfort, pain, and other complications
Breastfeeding the premature or sick infant
Breastfeeding in the chronically ill mother
Management of the breastfeeding mother on medication
Infectious disease transmission through breast milk and breastfeeding
The collection and storage of human milk and human milk banking
Measuring the impact of being a “baby-friendly” hospital
Cultural competence and cultural sensitivity
International public health issues including social and economic issues.