Theta power relates to infant object encoding in naturalistic mother-infant interactions

Author(s)
Christine Michel, Daniel Matthes, Stefanie Hoehl
Abstract

This study investigates infants' neural and behavioral responses to maternal ostensive signals during naturalistic mother-infant interactions and their effects on object encoding. Mothers familiarized their 9- to 10-month-olds (N = 35, 17 females, mainly White, data collection: 2018–2019) with objects with or without mutual gaze, infant-directed speech, and calling the infant's name. Ostensive signals focused infants' attention on objects and their mothers. Infant theta activity synchronized and alpha activity desynchronized during interactions compared to a nonsocial resting phase (Cohen' d: 0.49–0.75). Yet, their amplitudes were unrelated to maternal ostensive signals. Ostensive signals did not facilitate object encoding. However, higher infant theta power during encoding predicted better subsequent object recognition. Results strengthen the role of theta-band power for early learning processes.

Organisation(s)
Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology
External organisation(s)
University of Applied Health Sciences, Max-Planck-Institut für Kognitions- und Neurowissenschaften, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig University of Applied Sciences
Journal
Child Development
Volume
95
Pages
530-543
No. of pages
14
ISSN
0009-3920
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.14011
Publication date
09-2023
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
501005 Developmental psychology
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health, Education, Developmental and Educational Psychology
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/theta-power-relates-to-infant-object-encoding-in-naturalistic-motherinfant-interactions(32df93c9-aaf3-4019-9f2f-12b3bfd984e3).html