Delayed reactive cries demonstrate emotional and physiological dysregulation in newborns of depressed mothers

The purpose of the present study was to examine newborns’ behavioral and physiological reactions to the cry of another infant (labeled a reactive cry). 101 newborns of depressed (N = 40) and non-depressed (N = 61) mothers were assessed on the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS, Brazelton and Nugent, 1995) and 89 of those infants also participated in an auditory task. Cardiovascular activity (heart period, parasympathetic tone, and recovery to basal activity) was obtained from a sub-sample of these infants (n = 37). Vocal distress and regulatory behaviors were examined when newborns listened to another infant's cry and to a simulated sound (the control condition). ANOVAs indicated that newborns of depressed mothers showed lower basal parasympathetic tone. In addition, newborns of depressed mothers responded with less vocal distress to the cry sounds of another infant, and were delayed in physiological regulation following this sound. These findings suggest that newborns of depressed mothers show altered, possibly dysregulated, behavioral and physiological patterns during socio-emotional situations in comparison to newborns of non-depressed mothers.

► Newborns of depressed mothers showed lower basal parasympathetic tone.
► Newborns of depressed mothers show less behavioral distress in response to the cry sounds of another infant and an overall delay in cardiac regulation following the cry sound of another infant.
► These findings suggest that newborns of depressed mothers show dysregulated behavioral and cardiovascular patterns during tonic and socio-emotional situations.