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Gene–Environment Contributions to the Development of Infant Vagal Reactivity: The Interaction of Dopamine and Maternal Sensitivity
Author(s) -
Propper Cathi,
Moore Ginger A.,
MillsKoonce W. Roger,
Halpern Carolyn Tucker,
HillSoderlund Ashley L.,
Calkins Susan D.,
Carbone Mary Anna,
Cox Martha
Publication year - 2008
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.1467-8624.2008.01194.x
Subject(s) - vagal tone , maternal sensitivity , allele , psychology , dopamine , reactivity (psychology) , dopamine receptor , developmental psychology , medicine , gene , heart rate , genetics , heart rate variability , neuroscience , biology , alternative medicine , pathology , blood pressure
This study investigated dopamine receptor genes ( DRD2 and DRD4 ) and maternal sensitivity as predictors of infant respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and RSA reactivity, purported indices of vagal tone and vagal regulation, in a challenge task at 3, 6, and 12 months in 173 infant–mother dyads. Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) revealed that at 3 and 6 months, RSA withdrawal in response to maternal separation was greater (suggesting expected physiological regulation) in infants without the DRD2 risk allele than those with the risk allele. At 12 months, infants with the risk allele who were also exposed to maternal sensitivity showed levels of RSA withdrawal comparable to infants who were not at genetic risk. Findings demonstrate the importance of developmental analysis of gene–environment interaction.