Trajectories of neural processing of motor actions in the first year of life and its association with the development of social cognition

• Grant number: 18/09398-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: August 01, 2018
• End date: February 28, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Psychology - Physiological Psychology
• Agreement: Natura
• Principal Investigator: Ana Alexandra Caldas Osório
• Grantee: Vera Lúcia Esteves Mateus
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie (UPM). Instituto Presbiteriano Mackenzie. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 14/50282-5 - Positive psychology and neuroscience: translational research to promote well-being and emotional regulation, AP.PCPE

Abstract

The Mirror Neuron System (MNS) is a brain network activated during the execution and observation of certain motor actions, and is believed to assist in the understanding of actions, intentions and emotions in others. However, the functioning of the MNS at very early stages of human development remains relatively unexplored. Two preliminary studies provided the first evidence of the activation of this system between 6 and 12 months of life. However, despite its importance for neurocognitive development, little is known about its trajectory throughout the first year of life. In addition, it is important to test the relationship between these indicators and early social-cognitive development. To that end, the neuronal processing of motor actions (via fNIRS) will be tested in 20 typically-developing infants, assessed at three time-points - 6, 10 and 12 months of age. In addition, and considering the possible involvement of the MNS in the development of early social-cognitive abilities, we also intend to study the relationship between patterns of neuronal activation and performance in a joint-attention task at 12 months. Thus, the present study aims to expand extant knowledge about the very early patterns of activation of the MNE and its implications for social-cognitive development throughout the first year of life. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MATEUS, VERA; OSORIO, ANA; MIGUEL, HELGA O.; CRUZ, SARA; SAMPAIO, ADRIANA. Maternal sensitivity and infant neural response to touch: an fNIRS study. SOCIAL COGNITIVE AND AFFECTIVE NEUROSCIENCE, v. 16, n. 12, p. 1256-1263, DEC 2022. (14/50282-5, 18/09398-0)

MATEUS, VERA; PAULA VIEIRA, ELISANGELA DOS ANJOS; MARTINS, CARLA; PACHI, PAULO ROBERTO; OSORIO, ANA. Joint attention abilities in Brazilian preterm and full-term infants. INFANT BEHAVIOR & DEVELOPMENT, v. 60, AUG 2020. (18/09398-0, 14/50282-5)