The Importance of Early Experiences for Neuro-affective Development

Overview

Journal Curr Top Behav Neurosci

Publisher Springer

Specialty Psychology

Date 2013 Nov 23

PMID 24264369

Citations 68

Authors

Nim Tottenham

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

This chapter considers the functional utility of the prolonged period of immaturity in human brain development. Development of the amygdala and its connections with the prefrontal cortex is used as an example system for discussing the special role of sensitive periods in shaping neural functional architecture. The argument is made that neural immaturity during childhood may be important and confer a longer period of neuroplasticity, which can increase learning from the environment.

Citing Articles

Microglia Morphology in the Developing Primate Amygdala and Effects of Early Life Stress.

King D, Abdalaziz M, Majewska A, Cameron J, Fudge J eNeuro. 2025; 12(1.

PMID: 39753372 PMC: 11735683. DOI: 10.1523/ENEURO.0466-24.2024.

On the Broader Significance of Maternal Sensitivity: Mothers' Early and Later Sensitive Parenting Matter to Children's Language, Executive Function, Academics, and Self-Reliance.

Foley J, Olino T, Weinraub M Dev Sci. 2024; 28(1):e13594.

PMID: 39676662 PMC: 11647561. DOI: 10.1111/desc.13594.

Strategies to support language development in neonatal intensive care unit: a narrative review.

Heo J, Kim E Clin Exp Pediatr. 2024; 67(12):651-663.

PMID: 39533738 PMC: 11621733. DOI: 10.3345/cep.2024.00087.

Psychological Stress During Childhood and Adolescence and Its Association With Inflammation Across the Lifespan: A Critical Review and Meta-Analysis.

Chiang J, Lam P, Chen E, Miller G Psychol Bull. 2024; 148(1-2):27-66.

PMID: 39247904 PMC: 11378952. DOI: 10.1037/bul0000351.

New insights into the effects of type and timing of childhood maltreatment on brain morphometry.

Grauduszus Y, Sicorello M, Demirakca T, von Schroder C, Schmahl C, Ende G Sci Rep. 2024; 14(1):11394.

PMID: 38762570 PMC: 11102438. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62051-w.

References

Sandman C, Davis E, Glynn L . Prescient human fetuses thrive. Psychol Sci. 2011; 23(1):93-100. PMC: 3493161. DOI: 10.1177/0956797611422073. View

Landers M, Sullivan R . The development and neurobiology of infant attachment and fear. Dev Neurosci. 2012; 34(2-3):101-14. PMC: 3593124. DOI: 10.1159/000336732. View

Sheridan M, Fox N, Zeanah C, McLaughlin K, Nelson 3rd C . Variation in neural development as a result of exposure to institutionalization early in childhood. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012; 109(32):12927-32. PMC: 3420193. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1200041109. View

Pezawas L, Meyer-Lindenberg A, Drabant E, Verchinski B, Munoz K, Kolachana B . 5-HTTLPR polymorphism impacts human cingulate-amygdala interactions: a genetic susceptibility mechanism for depression. Nat Neurosci. 2005; 8(6):828-34. DOI: 10.1038/nn1463. View

Tottenham N, Sheridan M . A review of adversity, the amygdala and the hippocampus: a consideration of developmental timing. Front Hum Neurosci. 2010; 3:68. PMC: 2813726. DOI: 10.3389/neuro.09.068.2009. View

Roy A, Shehzad Z, Margulies D, Kelly A, Uddin L, Gotimer K . Functional connectivity of the human amygdala using resting state fMRI. Neuroimage. 2008; 45(2):614-26. PMC: 2735022. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2008.11.030. View

Caldji C, Tannenbaum B, Sharma S, Francis D, Plotsky P, Meaney M . Maternal care during infancy regulates the development of neural systems mediating the expression of fearfulness in the rat. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1998; 95(9):5335-40. PMC: 20261. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.95.9.5335. View

Belsky J, Houts R, Fearon R . Infant attachment security and the timing of puberty: testing an evolutionary hypothesis. Psychol Sci. 2010; 21(9):1195-201. DOI: 10.1177/0956797610379867. View

Moriceau S, Roth T, Okotoghaide T, Sullivan R . Corticosterone controls the developmental emergence of fear and amygdala function to predator odors in infant rat pups. Int J Dev Neurosci. 2004; 22(5-6):415-22. PMC: 1880875. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2004.05.011. View

10.

Yang E, Lin E, Hensch T . Critical period for acoustic preference in mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012; 109 Suppl 2:17213-20. PMC: 3477391. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1200705109. View

11.

Kuhl P, Williams K, Lacerda F, Stevens K, Lindblom B . Linguistic experience alters phonetic perception in infants by 6 months of age. Science. 1992; 255(5044):606-8. DOI: 10.1126/science.1736364. View

12.

Bavelier D, Levi D, Li R, Dan Y, Hensch T . Removing brakes on adult brain plasticity: from molecular to behavioral interventions. J Neurosci. 2010; 30(45):14964-71. PMC: 2992973. DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4812-10.2010. View

13.

Gunnar M, van Dulmen M . Behavior problems in postinstitutionalized internationally adopted children. Dev Psychopathol. 2007; 19(1):129-48. DOI: 10.1017/S0954579407070071. View

14.

Ponce de Leon M, Golovanova L, Doronichev V, Romanova G, Akazawa T, Kondo O . Neanderthal brain size at birth provides insights into the evolution of human life history. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008; 105(37):13764-8. PMC: 2533682. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0803917105. View

15.

Cunningham M, Bhattacharyya S, Benes F . Amygdalo-cortical sprouting continues into early adulthood: implications for the development of normal and abnormal function during adolescence. J Comp Neurol. 2002; 453(2):116-30. DOI: 10.1002/cne.10376. View

16.

Shionoya K, Moriceau S, Bradstock P, Sullivan R . Maternal attenuation of hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus norepinephrine switches avoidance learning to preference learning in preweanling rat pups. Horm Behav. 2007; 52(3):391-400. PMC: 2659450. DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2007.06.004. View

17.

Hensch T, Fagiolini M, Mataga N, Stryker M, Baekkeskov S, Kash S . Local GABA circuit control of experience-dependent plasticity in developing visual cortex. Science. 1998; 282(5393):1504-8. PMC: 2851625. DOI: 10.1126/science.282.5393.1504. View

18.

Smith T, Toussaint M, Reid D, Olejniczak A, Hublin J . Rapid dental development in a Middle Paleolithic Belgian Neanderthal. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007; 104(51):20220-5. PMC: 2154412. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0707051104. View

19.

Bowlby J . The making and breaking of affectional bonds. I. Aetiology and psychopathology in the light of attachment theory. An expanded version of the Fiftieth Maudsley Lecture, delivered before the Royal College of Psychiatrists, 19 November 1976. Br J Psychiatry. 1977; 130:201-10. DOI: 10.1192/bjp.130.3.201. View

20.

Burghy C, Stodola D, Ruttle P, Molloy E, Armstrong J, Oler J . Developmental pathways to amygdala-prefrontal function and internalizing symptoms in adolescence. Nat Neurosci. 2012; 15(12):1736-41. PMC: 3509229. DOI: 10.1038/nn.3257. View