Limbic Network Neural Synchronization predicts biological Mother-Child relationship
Poster No:
1889
Submission Type:
Abstract Submission
Authors:
Jihyun Bae1, Yong Jeon Cheong1, Seonkyoung Lee1, Jihyeong Ro1, Minyoung Jung1
Institutions:
1Cognitive Science Research Group, Korea Brain Research Institute, Daegu, Korea, Republic of
First Author:
Jihyun Bae
Cognitive Science Research Group, Korea Brain Research Institute
Daegu, Korea, Republic of
Cognitive Science Research Group, Korea Brain Research Institute
Daegu, Korea, Republic of
Co-Author(s):
Yong Jeon Cheong
Cognitive Science Research Group, Korea Brain Research Institute
Daegu, Korea, Republic of
Cognitive Science Research Group, Korea Brain Research Institute
Daegu, Korea, Republic of
Seonkyoung Lee
Cognitive Science Research Group, Korea Brain Research Institute
Daegu, Korea, Republic of
Cognitive Science Research Group, Korea Brain Research Institute
Daegu, Korea, Republic of
Jihyeong Ro
Cognitive Science Research Group, Korea Brain Research Institute
Daegu, Korea, Republic of
Cognitive Science Research Group, Korea Brain Research Institute
Daegu, Korea, Republic of
Minyoung Jung
Cognitive Science Research Group, Korea Brain Research Institute
Daegu, Korea, Republic of
Cognitive Science Research Group, Korea Brain Research Institute
Daegu, Korea, Republic of
Introduction:
Recent advances in human social neuroscience suggest that interpersonal neural synchronization (INS) reflects the closeness of relationships and facilitates cooperative interactions.[1-3] While previous studies have explored INS in dyadic interactions, research focusing on the parent-child bond -particularly the unique biological mother-child relationship- still needs to be explored. This raises a question: does the mother exhibit greater INS with her biological child compared to non-biological children, and if so, what neural mechanisms underlie this phenomenon? This study aims to address this gap by exploring INS across brain regions and large-scale functional networks, identifying which brain regions and networks robustly predict biological mother-child relationships. By examining INS at both regional and network levels, this study provides novel insights into the neural basis of maternal bonding and biological relatedness.
Methods:
The study included 122 biological mother–child pairs (mothers: M age = 40.87 years, SD = 2.91; children: 68 males, M age = 9.3 years, SD = 1.63). Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) and T1-weighted anatomical imaging were acquired using a 3T MRI scanner. To assess spatial similarity in mother–child neural patterns, group-level independent component analysis (ICA) was performed using the CONN toolbox to extract large-scale intrinsic functional networks from rs-fMRI data. The number of components was set to 29, following CONN's default settings. To identify canonical brain networks, spatial correlations were computed between the resulting components and the Yeo 7-network template[4]. A permutation-based pairing analysis was conducted to compare network expression patterns between biological and non-biological mother–child pairs. Additionally, temporal similarity was evaluated using dynamic time warping (DTW) analysis.
·Overview of processing
Results:
Significant differences in predictive patterns between biological and non-biological mother–child pairs were primarily associated with the limbic and visual networks. Notably, temporally differentiated effects of curriculum with the child's age and gender were observed only within the limbic network.
Conclusions:
Biological mothers and their children exhibit significantly higher neural synchronization, compared to non-biological pairs. Considering not only that we used resting-state fMRI data but also that most previous INS studies have been based on goal-directed tasks, our results showed that close relationships, especially determined by biological kinship, are an important INS marker and that joint action is not mandatory. Interestingly the limbic network turned out to be a key region prediction of the biological mother-child relationship. The limbic network notably encompasses the orbitofrontal cortex, a region implicated in affective processing, reward valuation, and social bonding.[5] Given its role in maternal attachment and emotional attunement, heightened synchronization in this network may reflect fundamental neural mechanisms supporting the unique nature of biological caregiving relationships.[6]
Acknowledgements:
This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MSIT). (RS-2025-00517752)
Acknowledgements:
This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MSIT). (RS-2025-00517752)
Emotion, Motivation and Social Neuroscience:
Social Neuroscience Other
Modeling and Analysis Methods:
fMRI Connectivity and Network Modeling 2
Multivariate Approaches
Novel Imaging Acquisition Methods:
BOLD fMRI 1
Physiology, Metabolism and Neurotransmission:
Neurophysiology of Imaging Signals
Keywords:
Computational Neuroscience
Congenital
Data analysis
FUNCTIONAL MRI
Limbic Systems
MRI
NORMAL HUMAN
Statistical Methods
Other - Linear mixed effects model (LMEM), phase locking value (PLV)
1|2Indicates the priority used for review
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2. Li, L., Liu, J., Zhang, Y., & Huang, Y. (2022). Neural synchronization predicts marital satisfaction. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 119(38), e2207150119. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2207150119
3. Zhao, Q., Gao, Y., Zhang, Z., Liu, J., & He, C. (2024). Interpersonal neural synchronization during social interactions in close relationships: A systematic review and meta-analysis of fNIRS hyperscanning studies. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 158, 105659. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105659
4. Yeo, B. T. T., Krienen, F. M., Sepulcre, J., Sabuncu, M. R., Lashkari, D., Hollinshead, M., Roffman, J. L., Smoller, J. W., Zöllei, L., Polimeni, J. R., Fischl, B., Liu, H., & Buckner, R. L. (2011). The organization of the human cerebral cortex estimated by intrinsic functional connectivity. Journal of Neurophysiology, 106(3), 1125–1165. https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.00338.2011
5. Price, J. L., & Drevets, W. C. (2010). Neurocircuitry of mood disorders. Neuropsychopharmacology, 35(1), 192–216. https://doi.org/10.1038/npp.2009.104
6. Noriuchi, M., Kikuchi, Y., & Senoo, A. (2008). The functional neuroanatomy of maternal love: Mother's response to infant's attachment behaviors. Biological Psychiatry, 63(4), 415–423. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2007.05.018