393 - Maternal-Infant Bonding and Brain Functional Network Connectivity in 0-2 Months Infants: An fNIRS Study

Poster Number: 393
Publication Number: 393.426

Background: There is limited information on the impact of impaired maternal mental health on early infant brain network connectivity. This study aimed to examine maternal anxiety and depression on mother-infant bonding, early infant behavior and brain functional network connectivity

Objective: To analyze the impact of environmental factors (maternal anxiety and depression, care patterns) on mother-infant bonding and monitor infant brain functional network connectivity and behavioral development, and to elucidate the brain-behavior-environment-bonding relationship during infant development

Design/Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted in mothers and their 0-2 months healthy full-tern infants. Maternal-infant bonding was assessed by Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ) including subdimentions of impaired bonding, anger and rejection, and anxiety about care. Maternal anxiety and depressive were evaluated by Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), respectively. Neonatal behavioral development was evaluated by Neonatal Behavioral assessment Scale (NBAS) including motor and social ability. Brain Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) was used to assess infant brain network connectivity including the six functional networks: Default Mode Network (DMN), Frontoparietal Network (FPN), Ventral Attention Network (VAN), Dorsal Attention Network (DAN), Somatomotor Network (SEN), and Visual Network (VIS). We enrolled 129 mother-infant pairs. The final analysis included data from 73 pairs who completed all assessments

Results: PBQ scores positively correlated with maternal anxiety (r=0.391, P< 0.05) and maternal depression (r=0.489, P< 0.05), respectively. NBAS motor system negatively correlated with total PBQ scores (r=- 0.385, P< 0.05), impaired bonding (r=-0.389, P< 0.05), and anxiety about care (r=-0.452, P< 0.05). NBAS social ability negatively correlated with total PBQ scores (r=- 0.354, P< 0.05), impaired bonding (r=-0.324, P< 0.05), and anxiety about care (r=-0.393, P< 0.05). Anxiety about care negatively correlated with brain functional networks in the FPN region (r=-0.518, P< 0.05) and VIS-FPN region (r=-0.326, P< 0.05). There were no significant correlations between PBQ and the five brain network indicators (Cp, Lp, global efficiency, local efficiency and small-worldness)

Conclusion(s): Maternal anxiety or depression levels correlate with mother-infant bonding impairment. Mother-infant bonding significantly affects infant’s motor and social ability development, along with heightened functional connectivity in the frontal parietal control network