Neglectful maternal caregiving involves altered brain plasticity in empathy-related areas

Abstract

The maternal brain undergoes functional and structural adaptations to sensitive caregiving that are critical for ensuring infant wellbeing. This study investigates brain structural alterations in neglectful caregiving and their impact on mother-child interactive behavior. High-resolution 3D volumetric images were obtained on 25 neglectful (NM) and 23 non-neglectful control (CM) mothers. Using Voxel-Based Morphometry, we compared gray and white matter volume (GMV/WMV) between the two groups. Mothers also completed an empathy scale and participated with their children in a standardized play task (Emotional Availability Scale, EA). NM, as compared to CM, showed GMV reductions in right insula, anterior/middle cingulate, and right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), as well as WMV reductions in bilateral frontal regions. A GMV increase was observed in the right fusiform and cerebellum. Regression analyses showed a negative effect of fusiform GMV and a positive effect of right frontal WMV on EA Mediation analyses showed the mediating role of emotional empathy in the positive effect of insula and IFG, and the negative effect of cerebellum on EA. Neglectful mothering involves an altered plasticity in emotional empathy-related areas and in frontal areas associated with poor mother-child interactive bonding, indicating how critical the structural changes in these areas are for infant wellbeing.