Reflexes & Instincts: Jump-starting attachment (Chapter 7)

Reflexes & Instincts: Jump-starting attachment (Chapter 7)

1. Babies as communicators

   • Babies & caretakers influence & socialize the behaviors of e/o
     • Mother-infants are in constant adjust to e/o characteristics
       • Mother-baby's brain are shape and reshape

2. Fetal movements & reflexes

   • 4th month: Sucking 5th month: Walking 6th month: Knee jerk & other tendon reflexes 7th month: Cry 8th month: All reflexes are in place
   • Primitive reflexes: early R. present at birth or soon after.
     • Most early reflexes disappear during the first 6-12 months - Reflexes that continue to serve protection remains (blinking, yawning, coughing, sneezing) - Disappear or are inhibited by the frontal lobe as child
     • Related to instinctive needs for survival & protection or may 'support connection to the caregiver
       • Human infants have an estimated 27 major reflexes
   • Newborn reflexes
     • Moro/startle reflex
       • Stimulation: baby is drop, loud sound Baby's behavior: Extend arms, legs, fingers -Appearence: 7th month of gestation -Disappearence: 3 months old
       • Darwinian/ grasping reflex
         • -Stimulaton: Palm od baby's hand is stroke -BB: Can be raise to standing position -Appearance: 7th month of gestation -Disappearance: 4 months old
         • Tonic neck reflex
           • -Stimulation: Baby is laid down on back -BB: turns head one side -Ap: 7th month of gestation -Disap: 5 months old
           • Babkin reflex
             • -Stimulation: Both of baby's palms are stroke at once -BB: mouth opens, eyes close, neck flexes -Ap: With -Disap: 3 months
             • Babinski reflex
               • Stimulation: Sole of baby's foot is stroke -BB: Toes fans out, foot twist in -Ap: birth -Disap: 4 months
               • Rooting reflex
                 • -Stimulation: baby's cheek or lower lips is stroke w/finger, nipple -BB: head turns, mouth opens -Ap: birth -Disap: 9 months
                 • Walking reflex
                   • -Stimulation: Baby is held w/barefoot touching the floor -BB: makes steps like coordinating walking -App: 1 month -Disap: 4 month
                   • Swimming reflex
                     • -Ap: 1 month -Disap: 4 month
     • Why reflexes?
       • Practice for future voluntary movements. - If lacking - neurological problems - Exact function unknown
       • Triggers maternal instinct, +emotions, increase physical contact
       • Mother's brain activates w/sight, smell, sound of the newborn
       • Maternal preoccupation + emotional communication

3. How we bond?

   • Smell & Pheromones
     • The earliest involving form of communication Pheromone
       • Baby can recognize the mother's, nipple and breast milk smell
         • Pheromones: Chemical messengers that carry info % individuals of the same species
           • Carry info @ territory, sexual ability, caretaker's behavior  - Animals: stimulates grooming, feeding, emigration
           • Jacobson's organ
             • Also called Vomeronasal Organ (VNO)
               • To detect pheromones, plays a role of reproduction and social behavior
   • Sounds & Sights
     • Mothers can recognize the baby's crying
       • Infants can recognize mom's voice & familiar faces
         • Infants can open their mouths, show happiness or sadness w/tongue
           • Mom teaches facial expression & respondes to cries w/nurturing behavior & no vocalization by imitating
     • Elevate Dopamine & Endorphins makes mom the infant's primary source of enjoyment
       • Dopamine: "Feel good" hormone keeps you motivated & let you enjoy what you like
       • Endorphine: Helps to overcome stress & pain due to physical activities. Recover from injuries. Humor and laughter also help create endorphin
   • Touch
     • During the 9 month moms spend 90% of the time touching, rubbing, stroking and massaging the baby
       • Skin contact help infant's establish hypothalamus & regulate body temperature
         • Lack of touching - neurodevelopment delays, depression & negative adj. w/romantic partners
     • Skin contains 2 sensory receptors
       • 1. Somatosensory cortex for identification & manipulation of objets 2. Activate insula, cingulate, OMC - connects touch w/social emotion (connects w/social brain - modulates skin to skin contact, shooting emotion, hormonal activation & seal response) Touch leads to increase in oxytocin & endorphin - enhance social bond
     • Benefits
       • -Preterm Infants: cry less, develop faster, exhibit higher vagal toen, gain more weight, sleep better - Low-birth weight infants: better visual-motor skills more grow motor development - Depressed mothers: massage their infants, decrease level of stress, increases alertness

4. Maternal Behavior & Brain

   • Medial pero-tic area (MPOA) of the hypothalamus (consider the anterior hypothalamus)
     • Contains hormones (oxytocin, vasopressin, prolactin) that activate maternal behavior
       • Mother affect: Changes in Amygdala & Prefrontal cortex
       • Stimulus salience: Changes in Amygdala & Nuclues Accumbens
       • Attention: Changes in Nucleus Acumbens & Prefrontal cortex
       • Memory: Changes in Nucleus Accumbens & PFC