Читать книгу Developmental Psychopathology - Группа авторов - Страница 115

As you may have guessed based on the genetic research linking attachment to DRD4 and DRD2, there is a consensus that the neurotransmitter dopamine, which regulates the brain’s reward systems, plays a role in bonding between parents and children as well as between adults (Insel, 2003). For example, low maternal care has been linked to an elevated stress dopamine response (Pruessner, Champagne, Meaney, & Dagher, 2004). Strathearn and colleagues (2008) found that brain areas associated with dopamine‐related reward processing displayed increased activation in response to the mother’s own infant, when compared with an unknown infant. Further, Strathearn and colleagues (2009) found that secure mothers showed greater activation in areas of the brain associated with the dopaminergic reward system when viewing their babies than mothers with a dismissing attachment. You can see an example of the pictures used and the brain imaging data in Figure 4.5.

Genetic research has also implicated the neurotransmitter serotonin in attachment. Serotonin helps maintain stable mood and affect, and dysfunction is associated with depression and anxiety. With regard to romantic attachment, one study concluded that limited serotonin produces altered perceptions of relationships (Bilderbeck et al., 2011). Bartz (2011) posited that serotonin depletion has a similar effect to fearful attachments (i.e., preoccupied) and a temporary reduction in serotonin induces a temporary fearful attachment state.

FIGURE 4.5 Secure Mothers Showed Greater Activation in Areas of the Brain Associated with Reward.

Source: Strathearn L., et al. (2009). Reproduced with permissions of Springer Nature.