Mental health articles

Attachment and brain development
Sensitive care promotes growth and the development of self-regulation. Early
brain development is promoted by secure attachment. Infants in well-regulated
relationships that involve the sharing of positive affective states show optimal
brain growth and development.
From a neurodevelopmental point of view, the infant’s primary caretaker,
usually the mother, and to a lesser extent other attachment figures, play a crucial
role in helping to regulate the overall amount of neurophysiological arousal the
infant experiences. Extremes of over- and under-arousal are aversive to the
infant and will produce a stress response and release of stress hormones such as
cortisol and adrenaline.
Neglect and overstimulation will both produce stress and have potential
effects on neurodevelopment. Neglect results in a diminution of crucial
organising experiences for the brain. If these are not provided in the
infant–parent relationship during critical periods, normal developmental
processes can be damaged permanently.
Attachment theory stresses that responsive, attuned care helps the infant to
maintain an optimal range of arousal. The secure infant gradually develops her
own capacity to self-regulate as she develops limbic pathways (the system
involved in control of emotional states) needed for understanding and regulation
of emotional states. Insecure infants experience higher levels of stress and may
be less competent in affect regulation.
As discussed in Chapter 2, insecure infants show varying patterns of
processing emotional information ranging from avoidance (down playing of
emotional reactivity) to anxiety (heightened emotional display). These patterns
are developed in infancy in the context of the relationship between the mother
or caretaker and the infant and set the pattern for ongoing handling of emotions
and stress. They form part of what becomes the individual’s characteristic
personality style and are based on differing patterns of neurological
development. The effects of the attachment relationship on emotional
development are summarised below:
• secure attachment—optimal level of arousal; flexible emotional responses
• insecure/avoidant attachment—down-play emotional responses
• insecure/ambivalent attachment—heightened emotional display.

The ‘good-enough mother’ modulates the infant’s level of physiological
arousal. The poorly parented infant experiences extremes of under- and overarousal
that are aversive and stressful. Chronic exposure to stress in infancy
with high levels of circulating stress hormones, such as cortisol, has direct
effects on the developing brain.
The sensitive parent is able to regulate or ‘fine-tune’ his or her engagement
with the infant according to the signals the infant communicates. For example,
if the infant signals tiredness or a move away from interaction, the parent
responds to this by reducing the level of stimulation, such as by speaking softly
or darkening the room.

Tags: attachment