Social touch is a powerful force in human development, shaping social reward, attachment,
cognitive, communication, and emotional regulation from infancy and throughout life. In this …

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a debilitating illness characterized by neuroanatomical
and functional alterations in limbic structures, notably the prefrontal cortex (PFC), that can be …

The hippocampus provided the gateway into much of what we have learned about stress
and brain structural and functional plasticity, and this initial focus has expanded to other …

The brain is a vital organ, susceptible to alterations under genetic influences and
environmental experiences. Social isolation (SI) acts as a stressor which results in …

This review examines mechanisms contributing to the intergenerational transmission of self-
regulation. To provide an integrated account of how self-regulation is transmitted across …

Research efforts during the past decades have provided intriguing evidence suggesting that
stressful experiences during pregnancy exert long-term consequences on the future mental …

Oxytocin, a hypothalamic nonapeptide, is linked to increased levels of social interaction, well-
being and anti-stress effects. The effects of oxytocin that is released by sensory stimulation …

During the early period of hypothesis building and empirical testing of attachment theory, a
major emphasis was placed on mother-infant physical contact. In spite of this, mother-infant …

Childhood trauma and neglect influence emotional development and increase the risk for
and severity of mental illness. Women have a heightened susceptibility to the effects of early …

BACKGROUND: Traumatic experiences in early life are risk factors for the development of
behavioral and emotional disorders. Such disorders can persist through adulthood and have …