A study published in Developmental Science found that infants with mothers who engage sensitively during play show increased brain activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex when viewing happy faces. This heightened response, observed between 5 and 7 months of age, highlights the link between positive maternal interactions and early brain development related to emotional and social competencies. Using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), the researchers measured brain activity in 95 mother-infant pairs. They discovered that maternal sensitivity specifically enhances neural responses to positive emotions, suggesting that nurturing care promotes healthy social brain development. The study emphasizes the importance of positive caregiving in shaping infants’ emotional health and social skills.
