The Role of Touch in Mother-Infant Neural Synchrony

• Grant number: 25/04991-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: September 01, 2025
• End date: February 28, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Psychology - Human Development Psychology
• Principal Investigator: Ana Alexandra Caldas Osório
• Grantee: Camila Fragoso Ribeiro
• Supervisor: Stefanie Hoehl
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie (UPM). Instituto Presbiteriano Mackenzie. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Vienna, Austria
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/12250-3 - Infant neuronal and cardiac responses to maternal versus stranger's touch, BP.DD

Abstract

Interpersonal synchrony, the dynamic coordination of behaviors and neurophysiological states between individuals, emerges early in caregiver-infant interactions and is crucial for several dimensions of child development, including attachment, communication, and socioemotional regulation. Research suggests that neural synchrony, a key aspect of interpersonal synchrony, may be enhanced by touch, as it optimizes mutual receptivity and communication. However, few studies have examined how touch influences mother-infant neural synchrony, particularly in the first year of life. This study aims to investigate the impact of touch on the neural synchrony in mother-infant interactions by comparing four conditions: (1) no touch and no face-to-face interaction; (2) touch but no face-to-face interaction; (3) no touch but face-to-face interaction; and (4) touch and face-to-face interaction. Using functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS), neural activity in somatosensory and social brain regions will be assessed in 65 mother-6-month-old infant dyads. We hypothesize that neural synchrony will be highest in touch and face-to-face interaction condition. This study will contribute to understanding the role of touch in early socioemotional and neural development.