title: Behavioral and genetic correlates of the neural response to infant crying among human fathers.
abstract: Although evolution has shaped human infant crying and the corresponding response from caregivers, there is marked variation in paternal involvement and caretaking behavior, highlighting the importance of understanding the neurobiology supporting optimal paternal responses to cries. We explored the neural response to infant cries in fathers of children aged 1-2, and its relationship with hormone levels, variation in the androgen receptor (AR) gene, parental attitudes and parental behavior. Although number of AR CAG trinucleotide repeats was positively correlated with neural activity in brain regions important for empathy (anterior insula and inferior frontal gyrus), restrictive attitudes were inversely correlated with neural activity in these regions and with regions involved with emotion regulation (orbitofrontal cortex). Anterior insula activity had a non-linear relationship with paternal caregiving, such that fathers with intermediate activation were most involved. These results suggest that restrictive attitudes may be associated with decreased empathy and emotion regulation in response to a child in distress, and that moderate anterior insula activity reflects an optimal level of arousal that supports engaged fathering.
authors: Department of Anthropology, Emory University, 207 Anthropology Building, 1557 Dickey Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 1639 Pierce Drive, Suite 4000, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Emory University, PO Box 3966, Atlanta, GA 30302, USA, Department of Psychology, Emory University, 36 Eagle Row, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, and Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322 Department of Anthropology, Emory University, 207 Anthropology Building, 1557 Dickey Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 1639 Pierce Drive, Suite 4000, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Emory University, PO Box 3966, Atlanta, GA 30302, USA, Department of Psychology, Emory University, 36 Eagle Row, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, and Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322 Department of Anthropology, Emory University, 207 Anthropology Building, 1557 Dickey Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 1639 Pierce Drive, Suite 4000, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Emory University, PO Box 3966, Atlanta, GA 30302, USA, Department of Psychology, Emory University, 36 Eagle Row, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, and Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322.
authors: Jennifer S
authors: JS
authors: Mascaro
authors: Department of Anthropology, Emory University, 207 Anthropology Building, 1557 Dickey Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 1639 Pierce Drive, Suite 4000, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Emory University, PO Box 3966, Atlanta, GA 30302, USA, Department of Psychology, Emory University, 36 Eagle Row, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, and Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322.
authors: Patrick D
authors: PD
authors: Hackett
authors: Department of Anthropology, Emory University, 207 Anthropology Building, 1557 Dickey Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 1639 Pierce Drive, Suite 4000, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Emory University, PO Box 3966, Atlanta, GA 30302, USA, Department of Psychology, Emory University, 36 Eagle Row, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, and Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322.
authors: Harold
authors: H
authors: Gouzoules
authors: Department of Anthropology, Emory University, 207 Anthropology Building, 1557 Dickey Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 1639 Pierce Drive, Suite 4000, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Emory University, PO Box 3966, Atlanta, GA 30302, USA, Department of Psychology, Emory University, 36 Eagle Row, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, and Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322.
authors: Adriana
authors: A
authors: Lori
authors: Department of Anthropology, Emory University, 207 Anthropology Building, 1557 Dickey Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 1639 Pierce Drive, Suite 4000, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Emory University, PO Box 3966, Atlanta, GA 30302, USA, Department of Psychology, Emory University, 36 Eagle Row, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, and Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322 Department of Anthropology, Emory University, 207 Anthropology Building, 1557 Dickey Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 1639 Pierce Drive, Suite 4000, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Emory University, PO Box 3966, Atlanta, GA 30302, USA, Department of Psychology, Emory University, 36 Eagle Row, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, and Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322 Department of Anthropology, Emory University, 207 Anthropology Building, 1557 Dickey Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 1639 Pierce Drive, Suite 4000, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Emory University, PO Box 3966, Atlanta, GA 30302, USA, Department of Psychology, Emory University, 36 Eagle Row, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, and Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322 Department of Anthropology, Emory University, 207 Anthropology Building, 1557 Dickey Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory Univ
authors: James K
authors: JK
authors: Rilling
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003448:Crying / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000097:blood; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000098:blood supply; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000235:genetics*; D057566:Self Report; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D013739:Testosterone; D010121:Oxytocin; D011388:Prolactin; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: androgen receptor; anterior insula; empathy; fMRI; fathers; prolactin