Mother-Infant Synchrony

Synchrony is an essential component of the interaction between a mother and her infant and is characterized by adaptive and reciprocal behaviors that promote a mutually rewarding interaction. It is an antecedent for the emergence of self-regulatory function in infants and influences current and future interactions. Understanding the dynamics of the mother-infant dyad and identifying synchronous patterns are important for promoting a healthy relationship. Approaches to measurement and challenges to model development are described.