Social Smiling and Laughter Are Linked to Enhanced Functional Brain Connectivity in Young Infants’ Default Mode Network

IF 2.2 4区心理学 Q3 DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY

Developmental psychobiology Pub Date : 2025-09-25 DOI:10.1002/dev.70088

Olivia Allison, Caroline Kelsey, Tobias Grossmann

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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.

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社交微笑和大笑与婴儿默认模式网络中增强的功能性大脑连接有关

目前的研究使用功能性近红外光谱（fNIRS）来调查5个月大婴儿（N = 109; N = 35最终样本）的积极社会参与的个体差异是否以及如何与人类大脑默认模式网络（DMN）功能连接的变异性相关。神经成像结果显示，平均而言，婴儿右半脑的功能连通性比左半球强，这进一步证实了先前的研究表明右半脑的连通性发展更快。结果没有显示我们预先登记的积极社会参与和DMN功能连接之间的任何正相关。然而，另一项分析显示，婴儿在与照顾者的日常社交互动中微笑和大笑的水平越高，就越能积极预测左半球DMN功能的连通性。这表明，与许多社会和认知功能有关的远程大脑网络的连通性的个体差异与婴儿积极的社会互动行为的某些方面有关。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Developmental psychobiology 生物-发育生物学

CiteScore

4.20

自引率

18.20%

发文量

125

审稿时长

6-12 weeks

期刊介绍： Developmental Psychobiology is a peer-reviewed journal that publishes original research papers from the disciplines of psychology, biology, neuroscience, and medicine that contribute to an understanding of behavior development. Research that focuses on development in the embryo/fetus, neonate, juvenile, or adult animal and multidisciplinary research that relates behavioral development to anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, genetics, or evolution is appropriate. The journal represents a broad phylogenetic perspective on behavior development by publishing studies of invertebrates, fish, birds, humans, and other animals. The journal publishes experimental and descriptive studies whether carried out in the laboratory or field. The journal also publishes review articles and theoretical papers that make important conceptual contributions. Special dedicated issues of Developmental Psychobiology , consisting of invited papers on a topic of general interest, may be arranged with the Editor-in-Chief. Developmental Psychobiology also publishes Letters to the Editor, which discuss issues of general interest or material published in the journal. Letters discussing published material may correct errors, provide clarification, or offer a different point of view. Authors should consult the editors on the preparation of these contributions.