An initial investigation of neonatal neuroanatomy, caregiving, and levels of disorganized behavior

Significance Attachment disorganization is important to mental health, and is predicted by differences in caregiving. Still, not all children are equally influenced by such environmental factors. We examined whether differences in brain structures important to stress regulation influence the relation between maternal sensitive caregiving and levels of disorganization. We assessed brains at birth, as children are not yet exposed to substantial variation in parenting at this point in time. Our findings indicate that differences in the hippocampus, a structure important to conflict and stress, influence the association between caregiving and child outcomes. If replicated, this work may allow for more targeted interventions, and suggests the need to enhance fear regulation capabilities in infants likely to be exposed to lower quality caregiving.