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Maternal DHA and the Development of Attention in Infancy and Toddlerhood
Author(s) -
Colombo John,
Kannass Kathleen N.,
Jill Shaddy D.,
Kundurthi Shashi,
Maikranz Julie M.,
Anderson Christa J.,
Blaga Otilia M.,
Carlson Susan E.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
child development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.103
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1467-8624
pISSN - 0009-3920
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2004.00737.x
Subject(s) - habituation , docosahexaenoic acid , psychology , developmental psychology , cognitive development , cognition , child development , brain development , polyunsaturated fatty acid , fatty acid , psychiatry , neuroscience , biochemistry , chemistry
Infants were followed longitudinally to document the relationship between docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels and the development of attention. Erythrocyte (red‐blood cell; RBC) phospholipid DHA (percentage of total fatty acids) was measured from infants and mothers at delivery. Infants were assessed in infant‐control habituation at 4, 6, and 8 months augmented with psychophysiological measures, and on free‐play attention and distractibility paradigms at 12 and 18 months. Infants whose mothers had high DHA at birth showed an accelerated decline in looking over the 1st year and increases in examining during single‐object exploration and less distractibility in the 2nd year. These findings are consistent with evidence suggesting a link between DHA and cognitive development in infancy.