
A Longitudinal Study of Infant Cortisol Response During Learning Events
Wiley (Publisher)
4th Edition
Published on 1. January 2016
Book
Paperback/Softback
316 pages
978-1-119-22908-7 (ISBN)
Description
Cortisol, a hormone associated with the stress response, affects adult performance on learning and memory tasks, yet whether cortisol helps or hinders performance depends on the direction of cortisol change during the task, the amount of change, and the type of task. Past studies of infants are few and confl icting regarding whether an increasing or decreasing cortisol reactivity pattern facilitates cognitive performance. Similarly, few studies have assessed whether an association exists between maternal sensitivity and learning in infancy. The present study assessed relations between maternal sensitivity, infants' cortisol response to maternal separation and a novel cognitive task, and cognitive performance at 3, 6, 8, 10, and 12 months. At each phase, infants completed different cognitive tasks, maternal and infant cortisol was measured before and after the task, and motherinfant behavior was assessed to determine maternal sensitivity. When performance on the tasks varied with cortisol response or maternal sensitivity, better performance was associated with a decreasing pattern of cortisol response (lower cortisol after the task than before) and higher levels of maternal sensitivity. Relations between cortisol response and infant cognitive performance were not, however, mediated by maternal sensitivity. Longitudinal analyses revealed no intra-individual stability in infants' cortisol response patterns over the fi rst year; however, at the group level, the decreasing cortisol response pattern became more prevalent across this age range, especially in girls. Additionally, beginning at 6 months, maternal sensitivity was stable across phases. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for the development of regulation abilities during infancy.
More details
Series
Edition
4th edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Hoboken
United Kingdom
Publishing group
John Wiley and Sons Ltd
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 10 mm
Weight
204 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-119-22908-7 (9781119229087)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Laura A. Thompson is a Distinguished Achievement Professor of Psychology at New Mexico State University. She received her doctorate in psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Gin Morgan received her doctorate in psychology from Columbia University, served as a post-doctoral fellow in psychology at New Mexico State University, and is now a Lecturer in Psychology at Indiana University Kokomo. Kellie A. Jurado received her B.S. from New Mexico State University, and is now a graduate student in Virology at Harvard University.
Megan R. Gunnar is a Regents Professor of Developmental Psychology and Director of the Institute of Child Development at the University of Minnesota. Her research focuses on the neuroendocrinology of stress and social buffering in human development and the impact of early adversity on neurobehavioral development. She is the recipient of the Distinguished Scientific Contributions to Child Development award from the Society for Research in Child Development, the G. Stanley Hall award from division 7 of the American Psychological Association, and the mentor award for lifetime achievement from the Association for Psychological Science.
Gin Morgan received her doctorate in psychology from Columbia University, served as a post-doctoral fellow in psychology at New Mexico State University, and is now a Lecturer in Psychology at Indiana University Kokomo. Kellie A. Jurado received her B.S. from New Mexico State University, and is now a graduate student in Virology at Harvard University.
Megan R. Gunnar is a Regents Professor of Developmental Psychology and Director of the Institute of Child Development at the University of Minnesota. Her research focuses on the neuroendocrinology of stress and social buffering in human development and the impact of early adversity on neurobehavioral development. She is the recipient of the Distinguished Scientific Contributions to Child Development award from the Society for Research in Child Development, the G. Stanley Hall award from division 7 of the American Psychological Association, and the mentor award for lifetime achievement from the Association for Psychological Science.
Author
Commentaries
Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota, Editors
Series Editor
Content
A LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF INFANT CORTISOL RESPONSE DURING LEARNING EVENTS
CONTENTS
ABSTRACT I. vii
INTRODUCTION 1
II. GENERAL METHODOLOGY FOR ALL PHASES OF THE LONGITUDINAL STUDY 25
III. JUSTIFICATION FOR CORTISOL RESPONSE CATEGORIES IV. 40 LONGITUDINAL ANALYSES OF CORTISOL AND MATERNAL SENSITIVITY 48
V. CORTISOL RESPONSE PATTERNS AND DETECTION OF CHANGE IN AUDITORY AND VISUAL STIMULI 58
VI. MATERNAL SENSITIVITY AND DETECTION OF CHANGE IN AUDITORY AND VISUAL STIMULI 84
VII. GENERAL DISCUSSION 91 REFERENCES 106
APPENDIX 121
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 122
COMMENTARY
GLUCOCORTICOIDS AND LEARNING DURING INFANCY: A COMMENTARY
Megan R.Gunnar 123
CONTRIBUTORS 132
STATEMENT OF EDITORIAL POLICY 133
SUBJECT INDEX 135
CONTENTS
ABSTRACT I. vii
INTRODUCTION 1
II. GENERAL METHODOLOGY FOR ALL PHASES OF THE LONGITUDINAL STUDY 25
III. JUSTIFICATION FOR CORTISOL RESPONSE CATEGORIES IV. 40 LONGITUDINAL ANALYSES OF CORTISOL AND MATERNAL SENSITIVITY 48
V. CORTISOL RESPONSE PATTERNS AND DETECTION OF CHANGE IN AUDITORY AND VISUAL STIMULI 58
VI. MATERNAL SENSITIVITY AND DETECTION OF CHANGE IN AUDITORY AND VISUAL STIMULI 84
VII. GENERAL DISCUSSION 91 REFERENCES 106
APPENDIX 121
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 122
COMMENTARY
GLUCOCORTICOIDS AND LEARNING DURING INFANCY: A COMMENTARY
Megan R.Gunnar 123
CONTRIBUTORS 132
STATEMENT OF EDITORIAL POLICY 133
SUBJECT INDEX 135