The dual nature of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis regulation in dyads of very preterm infants and their mothers

<p>Raw data of the study &quot;The dual nature of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis regulation in dyads of very preterm infants and their mothers&quot; In this study, 3-month-old (corrected age) VPT infants and FT counterparts with their mothers took part in a well-validated stress-inducing laboratory task (i.e., double Face-to-Face Still-Face, FFSF paradigm). Salivary cortisol samples were obtained before (Baseline) and after (Early reactivity, Late reactivity and Recovery) the FFSF procedure. Dyadic HPA axis co-regulation was assessed at each sample time-point (i.e., <em>in-moment</em> coupling) as well as across samples (i.e., <em>in-time synchrony</em>). Significant <em>in-moment</em> coupling emerged at Baseline, Late reactivity and Recovery for FT infants&rsquo; dyads only. An overlying pattern of salivary cortisol trajectories emerged between mothers and infants in the VPT group, whereas a more complex pattern of reciprocal and complementary co-regulation was found for FT infants&rsquo; dyads. Although both groups gave evidence of HPA axis co-regulation, dyads of VPT infants appear to be less able to adapt reciprocally and dynamically to stressful conditions</p>