title: Vagal tone as a resilience factor in children with prenatal cocaine exposure.
abstract: Studies have investigated the potential effects of prenatal cocaine exposure (CE) on children's development. However, few studies have examined predictors of resilient outcomes in this population. We examined vagal tone (VT) as a resilience factor in prenatal CE. Utilizing data from the Maternal Lifestyle Study, a cumulative risk index was derived for children with and without prenatal CE. Presence of CE and other prenatal drugs was summed with postnatal risks in infancy to yield a 15-item risk index. Preschool cognitive outcomes, problem behaviors, and adaptive behaviors were measured. VT was assessed during an infant exam at 1 month and toy exploration at 36 months. We included children with complete physiologic data (217 CE, 333 non-CE). Children were classified as having consistently high, consistently low, or fluctuating VT at 1 and 36 months. Children were also classified as high versus low risk. High-risk children had lower IQ scores, more problem behaviors, and lower ratings of adaptive behaviors than low-risk children. A significant risk by VT-stability interaction indicated that for high-risk children, those with stable low VT had higher ratings of adaptive behaviors at 36 months. This is consistent with theory linking reduced VT during tasks to adaptive regulation and indicates that such regulatory functioning may serve as a protective factor in prenatal CE.
authors: The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown, Rhode Island, USA. stephen_sheinkopf@brown.edu
authors: Stephen J
authors: SJ
authors: Sheinkopf
authors: Linda L
authors: LL
authors: Lagasse
authors: Barry M
authors: BM
authors: Lester
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Liu
authors: Ronald
authors: R
authors: Seifer
authors: Charles R
authors: CR
authors: Bauer
authors: Seetha
authors: S
authors: Shankaran
authors: Henrietta
authors: H
authors: Bada
authors: Abhik
authors: A
authors: Das
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000502:physiology*