Exploring Environmental Influences on the Neural Correlates of Social Tactile Processing in Early Infancy

In infancy, touch is used to communicate emotions, express affiliative relationships, communicate with caregivers, and modulate homeostasis. These mechanisms rely on the dyadic exchange of social cues through tactile experiences. However, little is known about the neural correlates of social tactile processing in early infancy or whether the infant brain can differentiate between social and non-social contexts of touch. This dissertation aims to explore the spatial and temporal dynamics of social touch in infancy using a unique non-social tactile control condition, proposes a novel functional magnetic resonance imaging methodology to provide more robust results for developmental populations, and explores mechanistic developmental pathways, including infant temperament and the effects of the oxytocinergic system, on enhancing or mitigating the neural response to social tactile information. Understanding the neurological response to social touch in early life will ultimately lead to potential biomarkers that can be used to diagnose social deficit or sensory processing disorders, ultimately leading to earlier interventions and more optimal developmental trajectories.