Neural basis of early mother-infant bonding (NeMuK study)

© lizenzfrei

Funded by the Dietmar Hopp Foundation

Study directors:

Prof. Dr. Beate Ditzen, Institute for Medical Psychology at the Center for Psychosocial Medicine University Hospital, Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg
Dr. Dipl. Psych. Monika Eckstein, Institute for Medical Psychology in the Center for Psychosocial Medicine University Hospital, Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg
Prof. Dr. Anna-Lena Zietlow, Chair for Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, TU Dresden

In cooperation with:

Prof. Dr. Peter Kirsch, Central Institute for Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Ruprecht Karls University Heidelberg
Dr. Daniela Noe, Clinic for General Psychiatry at the Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital

Contact person:

Dr. Monika Eckstein Contact

Prof. Dr. Anna-Lena Zietlow Contact

Objectives:

The focus of this study is on mothers who have difficulty establishing an emotional relationship with their newborn child. This study investigates whether a neurofeedback intervention can help mothers to improve the relationship with their 3-4 month old child.
In this study, mothers practice using MRI to positively influence their brain activity in response to images of their child.

Background:

The postpartum period represents a formative period for both mother and child, requiring constant attention and effort, especially from the mother. Many mothers experience a so-called "baby honeymoon" after birth - a state that awakens in them the desire to be constantly near their child, to care for it, and enables them to take on the efforts of motherhood. This state lays the foundation for positive development of the infant.

Some mothers find it more difficult to form an emotional bond with their child after birth. This is often accompanied by self-reproach, including shame at not being able to respond to their child as positively as they would like.

This study aims to help mothers improve their relationship with their 3-4 month old child by practicing positively influencing their brain activity in response to pictures of their child. To do this, mothers' brain activity is measured while they are in the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner and reported back to them life. This intervention intentionally does not use medication and thus represents a new method to improve the relationship between mother and child in the long term.

Study Procedure:

The study includes a total of three appointments (3, 6 and 12 months after birth), at which mothers with and without attachment difficulties come to our Center for Psychosocial Medicine together with their babies. At these appointments, in addition to interviews about the mother's health status and bonding with the baby and other questionnaires, mother-child interaction is recorded and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is performed.

For mothers participating in the intervention to improve maternal bonding, there are also three training sessions at intervals of about 14 days, during which they practice using MRI to upregulate brain activity in response to images of their own child.

In addition, a blood sample is also taken from each mother to record the bonding hormone oxytocin.

At the age of 12 months, the child's development is then also recorded in a playful manner with the help of a general development test.

Data collection for this study has been completed.