Brain complexity: baby brains under study (Introduction)

by David Turell , Tuesday, April 21, 2020, 01:42 (1467 days ago) @ David Turell

More on early baby temperament predicting a portion of adult personality:

https://cosmosmagazine.com/biology/seeing-the-adult-in-the-infant?utm_source=Cosmos+-+M...

"Researchers found that toddlers who displayed behavioural inhibition – cautious and fearful behaviours when exposed to unfamiliar people, objects and situations – became more reserved, introverted and less socially active as adults.

"And as teens, those that showed more intense brain activity after making mistakes in a computer task were more likely to develop symptoms of anxiety and depression, reports the study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

“'Children show different behavioural styles very early in development,” explains lead author Alva Tang from the University of Maryland in the US.

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"The finding that behaviourally inhibited infants became more reserved, introverted adults with lower social functioning extends other studies that tested children from three to six years of age.

"Various theories propose this occurs due to interactions between infant temperament and the environment.

“'As people age, personality might become increasingly stable due to the accumulation of and reinforcement from consistent experiences selected or created by the individuals,” the authors write.

"As an example, they suggest parents of behaviourally inhibited children might be overprotective, thus reinforcing the child’s temperament and social interactions.

"Children who are fearful of new social situations may avoid them and thus prevent opportunities for social learning and friendship building.

"Intriguingly, early inhibition was not related to career and education or romantic relationship outcomes, adding to other inconclusive findings in these regards.

"Tang suggests several possible reasons for this, including methodological or generational differences.

“'Alternatively,” she says, “it could mean that even though behaviourally inhibited infants have worse social functioning in some domains, they are by and large able to function effectively in society.”

"By revealing neural activity associated with anxiety disorders in adulthood, the study also gives insights into risk versus resilience, providing an opportunity to intervene.

“'These findings highlight the enduring nature of early temperament, which shapes long-term personality and wellbeing,” Tang says, “and suggests that neurophysiological markers could help identify individuals who are most at risk for internalising psychopathology in adulthood.'”

Comment: The objections to some of the studies' findings are valid, but miss the fact that adult personality is many faceted, and the study covers one small aspect. Autobiographical note: as a young teenager I remember being tentative about trying new things, yet I have had a very successful life, top of the class grades, career, and two marriages.