Emotion regulation and touch in infants: The role of cholecystokinin and opioids

Aron Weller, Ruth Feldman

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

81 Scopus citations

Abstract

Behavioral-pharmacological research in infant rats supports the role of cholecystokinin (CCK) and opioid peptides in mediating early learning of new associations with aspects of the nest and dam, such as maternal odor, milk, and contact. The current paper reviews research that examines the hypothesis that these neuropeptide systems are further involved in mediating emotion regulation in infants, thus playing a role in the emergence of stress-reactivity and other motivational systems. The beneficial effects of maternal proximity, handling, and touch on the development of emotion regulation have been demonstrated in both human and animal models. Interventions that promote tactile stimulation of the infant ("touch therapy") and infant-mother contact ("skin-to-skin contact" or "kangaroo care") have been shown to improve the infant's ability to self-regulate, and to moderate the effects of some risk factors. Theoretical perspectives and empirical findings regarding emotion regulation in infants are first discussed. This is followed by a review of work providing evidence in animal models (and suggestive evidence in humans) for the importance of CCK and opioid neuropeptides in affecting infant emotion regulation and the impact of touch-based interventions, in particular in the context of infant-mother attraction, contact, separation, and attachment.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)779-788
Number of pages10
JournalPeptides
Volume24
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 May 2003

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors’ research on emotion regulation is supported by the Israel Science Foundation (separate grants to A.W. and R.F.), the Israel Foundations Trustees (A.W.), The U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation (R.F.), the Paula Rich Center, Bar-Ilan University (A.W.), and the Gonda Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University (A.W. and R.F.).

Funding

The authors’ research on emotion regulation is supported by the Israel Science Foundation (separate grants to A.W. and R.F.), the Israel Foundations Trustees (A.W.), The U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation (R.F.), the Paula Rich Center, Bar-Ilan University (A.W.), and the Gonda Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University (A.W. and R.F.).

FundersFunder number
Gonda Brain Research Center
Israel Foundations Trustees
Paula Rich Center
United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation
Bar-Ilan University
Israel Science Foundation

    Keywords

    • Cholecystokinin
    • Emotion regulation
    • Infant-mother attachment
    • Infants
    • Opioid neuropeptides
    • Preterm infants
    • Rats
    • Self-regulation
    • Sheep
    • Stress reactivity
    • Touch
    • Ultra vocalization

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