Spatial working memory and attention skills are predicted by maternal stress during pregnancy

André Plamondon; Emis Akbari; Leslie Atkinson; Meir Steiner; Michael J Meaney; Alison S Fleming; MAVAN research team

doi:10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2014.11.004

Spatial working memory and attention skills are predicted by maternal stress during pregnancy

Early Hum Dev. 2015 Jan;91(1):23-9. doi: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2014.11.004. Epub 2014 Nov 26.

Authors

André Plamondon¹, Emis Akbari², Leslie Atkinson³, Meir Steiner⁴, Michael J Meaney⁵, Alison S Fleming⁶; MAVAN research team

Affiliations

¹ Applied Psychology and Human Development, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Fraser Mustard Institute for Human Development, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: andre.plamondon@fse.ulaval.ca.
² Fraser Mustard Institute for Human Development, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Atkinson Center for Society and Child Development, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
³ Department of Psychology, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
⁴ Women's Health Concerns Clinic, St. Joseph's Healthcare, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
⁵ Department of Psychiatry and Neurology, McGill University, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, The Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore.
⁶ Fraser Mustard Institute for Human Development, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Psychology, University of Toronto at Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

PMID: 25460253
DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2014.11.004

Abstract

Introduction: Experimental evidence in rodents shows that maternal stress during pregnancy (MSDP) negatively impacts spatial learning and memory in the offspring. We aim to investigate the association between MSDP (i.e., life events) and spatial working memory, as well as attention skills (attention shifting and attention focusing), in humans. The moderating roles of child sex, maternal anxiety during pregnancy and postnatal care are also investigated.

Methods: Participants were 236 mother-child dyads that were followed from the second trimester of pregnancy until 4 years postpartum. Measurements included questionnaires and independent observations.

Results: MSDP was negatively associated with attention shifting at 18 months when concurrent maternal anxiety was low. MSDP was associated with poorer spatial working memory at 4 years of age, but only for boys who experienced poorer postnatal care.

Conclusion: Consistent with results observed in rodents, MSDP was found to be associated with spatial working memory and attention skills. These results point to postnatal care and maternal anxiety during pregnancy as potential targets for interventions that aim to buffer children from the detrimental effects of MSDP.

Keywords: Attention skills; Maternal stress during pregnancy; Postnatal care; Spatial working memory.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Anxiety / complications*
Attention*
Child Development*
Female
Humans
Infant
Male
Memory, Short-Term*
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications / psychology*
Stress, Psychological / complications*

Grants and funding

Canadian Institutes of Health Research/Canada