Early detection of distinct language development in infants of mothers with severe mental illness using fNIRS

AI Summary

fNIRS revealed atypical right temporal activation in 8 to 10-month-old infants exposed to severe maternal mental illness, with stronger responses to non-voice than voice.
Socioeconomic status correlated positively with right-temporal activation to non-voice stimuli and sentences, independent of emotional prosody.
Brain response to non-voice stimuli mediated the relation between socioeconomic status and sentence activation, indicating early, SES-linked neural trajectories within the first year.

AI Summary

This study used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to compare 8-10-month-old infants exposed to severe maternal mental illness (n = 30) and unexposed controls (n = 30) during two experiments assessing brain activation to voice versus non-voice sounds and to sentences with angry, happy, or neutral prosody.

Exposed infants showed atypical right-temporal activation, with stronger activation to non-voice than voice stimuli, unlike controls.

These findings reveal distinct neural trajectories in infants exposed to severe maternal mental illness, detectable within the first year of life, and highlight socioeconomic background as a key factor in early brain development.

Basic summary

Commun Psychol. 2026 Jun 15. doi: 10.1038/s44271-026-00475-y. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Infants of mothers with severe mental illness are at elevated risk of neurodevelopmental difficulties. This study used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to compare 8-10-month-old infants exposed to severe maternal mental illness (n = 30) and unexposed controls (n = 30) during two experiments assessing brain activation to voice versus non-voice sounds and to sentences with angry, happy, or neutral prosody. Exposed infants showed atypical right-temporal activation, with stronger activation to non-voice than voice stimuli, unlike controls. Socioeconomic status was positively correlated with activation to non-voice and to sentences, independently of emotional prosody. Further analysis indicated that brain response to non-voice stimuli mediated the relation between socioeconomic status and activation to sentences. These findings reveal distinct neural trajectories in infants exposed to severe maternal mental illness, detectable within the first year of life, and highlight socioeconomic background as a key factor in early brain development.

PMID:42298134 | DOI:10.1038/s44271-026-00475-y

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