Contemporary Attachment Theory : Epigenetics, Right Brain, And Regulation

He agrees to the idea that modern parents try their best to create a stimulating environment for their children in order to shape them into better people, and children can have maximum amount of intellectual development. However, Savulescu suggests that a modern drug named Prozac shows the same result on influencing brain development in the study of rats. In which, Savulescu raises the question that why don’t we choose to actively manipulate our biological changes for the next generation, instead of waiting for the environment to change the future generations? There are no difference between providing a child with stimulating environment and alternating the child’s gene in the very beginning of the

One of the key theorists of attachment is John Bowlby and his ‘Attachment theory". Bowlby believed ‘the attachment of a caregiver is an inherited mechanism to

Modern attachment theory, which has now shifted to a regulation theory, takes Bowlby’s original work on attachment and looks at how early experiences, such as prenatal stress, optimal/suboptimal stress, and the mother’s ability to regulate the child’s needs, help the child form an internalized working model for attachment style due to the brain being an “experience-dependent organ” (Cozolino, 2010c; J. Schore & A. Schore, 2012).

John Bowlby (1907-1990) developed the Theory of Attachment, influenced by the work of Sigmund Freud’s 1926 theory of cupboard love, which suggested that babies form attachments with those who meet their physiological needs, for example; feeding and security. His theory has influenced practice in settings globally and has also influenced other theories and experiments. Bowlby “took a distinctly evolutionary perspective on early attachment. He argued that because newborn infants are completely helpless, they are genetically programmed to form an attachment with their mothers in order to ensure survival”. Collins et al (2012, p274-p275)

early childhood, teenage and an adulthood. The authors’ main focus is on how genes and

* Bowlby’s ideas have had a great influence on the way researchers thought about attachment and much of the discussion of his theory has focused on his belief in monotropy. Although Bowlby may not dispute young children from multiple attachments, he still contends that the attachment to the mother is unique in this it is the first to appear and remains the strongest of all.

hormones, neurotropic factors, environmental demands) are essential for typical differentiation. Especially at this age range, strong region-specific maturational changes occur in the rolandic gray matter, which present an increased susceptibility to deviations from the normal developmental trajectory by improper signaling (Andersen, 2003; Lenroot and Giedd, 2006). Moreover, during development, preadolescent influences are incorporated into the (further) maturation of anatomy and function as they determine set points for adult function, with possibly lasting effects (Andersen, 2003). The phase of preadolescent cortical thinning is preceded by a tremendous overshoot of neurons and connections, during which the brain is established as an over-complete network (Andersen, 2003; Lenroot and Giedd, 2006). The subsequent pruning process removes redundant neurons and connections to optimize the network for environmental needs, the level of redundancy determining the degree of adaptation (Muftuler et al.,

This essay will comprises, firstly, on past research looking into what attachment/ attachment theory is, focusing on Bowlby’s (DATE) research into why an infant’s first attachment is so important. Followed, by the work of Ainsworth et al (1978) bringing to light the findings from the strange situation, and how the research can explain mental illness. From this and in-depth discussion looking at how the previously discussed pieces of research have an effect on two particular disorders, depression and anxiety; while keeping a holistic approach considering other variables within attachment theory which have been linked with the development of these disorders. Through-out, the applications of knowing about this potential link between

In addition, these actions might come from a disconnect with attachment during the early stages of Deborah’s life. In addition, Deborah’s early experiences affect and change the developing right brain system by forging deeper connections (Schore J. & Schore K., 2014, p. 179). The process of developing her emotional regulation and personal growth lacks may not have successfully expanded because of the lack of attachment during her early childhood.

Karmiloff-Smith’s principal argument for modularisation, however, relates to the flexibility of cognitive development, positing that the complexity of the human brain supports an epigenetic rationale (1992). Argument relating to brain plasticity in infants could be deemed to support this argument - whilst some brain regions are associated with particular cognitive functions, the concept of plasticity suggests the developing cortex can compensate for loss of function or damage during infancy to another cortical area[2]. Plasticity may not be epigenetic – a viewpoint exists that a determined genetic blue-print plans for the possibility of brain damage – however, the amount of encoded genetic material necessary to provide complex domain-specific functions renders epigenesis, and therefore modularisation, a

The client’s early attachment experiences directly impacted the development of her right brain (Schore, 2001). During a positive exchange between a supportive parent and their child, the child is using the right hemispheric cortical and subcortical systems (Schore, 2001). In my client’s case her right hemispheric cortical and subcortical system was not activated due to not having consistent spontaneous emotional communication with a supportive parent (Schore, 2001). The right hemisphere of the brain primarily focuses on intuitive reactions and cognitions (Meyer, Wood, & Stanley, 2013). Development of the right hemisphere occurs when the cortex and the left hemisphere do not fully form (Meyer, Wood, & Stanley, 2013). Therefore, “it can be expected that how one develops and, later on in life, processes internal thoughts and feelings, as well as interprets social and emotional cues from oneself and others, are all strongly influenced by the environmental stimuli experienced in the first few years of life” (Meyer, Wood, & Stanley,

Understanding the human brain is no doubt a great scientific challenge that has yet to be completed. Behaviour, cognition and emotion can all be rooted down to nature; our genes. However, what truly directs the aforementioned functions and many alike is what controls our genes; the environment. The nature vs nurture debate is strongly prominent in the field of epigenetics with evidence showing that nurture

If the relationship between the caregiver and offspring lead to the child feeling positive and loved, it reflects a secure relationship with the caregiver, if it lead to the child feeling unloved and rejected, it reflects an avoidant relationship and if the child feels angry and confused, it leads to a resistant relationship. Schore’s review of Bowlby’s theorization lead to the analysis of the biological mechanisms of attachment and their implications in treatment and where Bowlby had originally stated that the foundation of attachment is based in neurobiological processes and that reticular formation in conjunction with the midbrain nuclei and limbic system play a significant role in self- regulation, the ultimate goal of the attachment system In an attempt to expand Freud’s research Schore suggested orbitofrontal cortex is actively involved in the process of establishing attachment pattern representations; a region with connection to the prefrontal region but also autonomic pathways. His research supports the idea that the mental representation of one’s ‘self’ as founded in one’s relationship with the primary care-giver impacts the social and emotional behavior as the inner working model finds foundation in its personality around the age of three

Subsequently, the alterations of the genetic material will further alter the neural connections in the brain. Though each brain is unique and is modified in a different way, gene alterations may cause synaptic connections to grow, regress or, sometimes, evolve to incorporate new pathways. Therefore, an individual’s behaviour may be modified due to these environmental factors.

A newborns brain growth is rapid and their growth and development reflects their experiences and social relationships (Berger,2014). From two weeks after conception until two weeks after birth the brain grows more rapidly than any other organ in the body (Berger,2014). We will now examine what biologically takes place inside the brain of an infant to better try to understand why development at this stage is so crucial. A newborns brain has billions of neurons, that are located in the portion of the brain called the Cortex, and they regulate and control thought, feeling, and sensation (Berger, 2014). In addition, research has found that children younger than