Discuss and critically evaluate the neuroscience evidence underpinning emotional development.

Emotional development is crucial for the ability of an individual to interact socially and maintain good relationships which can contribute to a good state of mental health and wellbeing. According to functionalist theory, emotions confer survival advantages as they allow favourable relationships to be established and maintained.

Core regions for emotional processing in the brain include the prefrontal cortex, in particular medial and subcortical regions which include the amygdala, basal ganglia and hippocampus. These develop at a much slower rate compared to regions of the brain which govern perception which is fully formed by three years of age. Regions governing emotions develop slowly and often continue development well into adulthood.

Emotional regulation develops at a very slow pace which coincides with the slow development of the structures responsible within the brain. Due to their slow development, these areas of brain tissue are particularly prone to pressures from environmental stimuli, with an innate high level of plasticity (N. Tottenham 2017). Thus, emotional responses can be flexibly adapted as environmental factors continuously mould this response.

Numerous studies have shown that the medial prefrontal cortex (PFC) and amygdala communication pathways work differently in children compared with adults. In adulthood, the medial PFC activity is high whereas the amygdala activity is low both relative to childhood activity levels. This corresponds with the greater ability of adults to regulate their emotional responses as the medial PFC has a greater capacity for processing of emotional stimuli than the amygdala which has a rather limited relative processing capacity. This contributes towards the phenomenon of young people, particularly babies having an inhibited capacity for regulating their emotions.

The orbitofrontal cortex also plays a role in emotional regulation. Especially in processing of emotions to influence decision making. Addiction, ADHD and OCD symptoms can arise when the orbitofrontal cortex function becomes compromised.

The anterior cingulate cortex is an important brain region involved in emotion and attention. When a stressful event occurs, the ability to focus attention is markedly diminished as the network is preferentially utilised for emotional processing. It is positioned in an important area of the brain connecting both the limbic emotional centres and the cognitive prefrontal cortex domains. Having implications in integration and regulation of emotions and is regarded as critical for psychopathology in relation to adverse emotion management, which is a key goal in the treatment of mental health by professionals. This is due to avoidance of adverse emotions being associated with psychopathological behaviour such as substance misuse, binge eating and suicide (Stevens et al 2011).

Twin studies have shed some light on the environmental impact on emotional development. In monozygotic twins, one twin was shown to respond less negatively to emotional stress factors relative to their identical twin, if they had stronger bonding with their parents and teachers. This demonstrates the strong influence of environmental factors over emotional development where genic makeup is virtually identical (Crosnoe & Elder 2002).

K.M.Banham devised a popular theory outlining the emotional development of children. It states that the first two emotions to precipitate soon after birth are distress and delight. Fear, anger joy and affection differentiate soon after. With subsequent emotions developing later on in development such as shame, jealousy, anxiety, elation and sexual affection. The emerging of these differentiated emotions in childhood coincides chronologically with the development and maturation of specific brain regions which govern emotions.

Specific brain regions can be observed as having abnormal function in children subjected to severe neglect. These show in the amygdala, hippocampus, orbitofrontal gyrus and prefrontal cortex, which are areas important in emotional and stress regulation in addition to executive decision making. Impairments in these regions are frequently associated with a broad range of mental health problems. This shows a strong link between the behavioural manifestations symptomatic of psychological problems and childhood neglect. Furthermore, severe neglect causes a disruption of hormonal balance of oxytocin and vasopressin which are vital to normal social and emotional function as both play a part in activating the dopaminergic reward pathway in response to social cues (Strathearn L. 2011).

The importance of healthy emotional development is clearly defined by the disorders which can arise due to abnormal functioning in the neurological apparatus governing emotional regulation. This is crucial in childhood; a most vulnerable time of growth and change. Understanding the brain regions responsible for regulation of emotions may assist in therapy as it can enable earlier intervention and thus contribute towards preventing future psychological disorders and the socio-economic and health related issues that are implicated by these.

 

The Brain’s Emotional Development (2017). Nim Tottenham. Cerebrum. Jul-Aug; 2017: cer-08-17.

 

Maternal neglect: oxytocin, dopamine and the neurobiology of attachment (2011). Strathearn L. Journal of neuroendocrinology, 23(11), 1054–1065.

 

Anterior Cingulate Cortex: Unique Role in Cognition and Emotion (2011). Francis L. Stevens, Robin A. Hurley, Katherine H. Taber , Robin A. Hurley, L. Anne Hayman and Katherine H. Taber. The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences. Published Online:1 Apr 2011

 

Successful Adaptation in the Later Years: A Life Course Approach to Aging (2002). Robert Crosnoe and Glen H. Elder Jr. Social Psychology Quarterly Vol. 65, No. 4 (Dec., 2002), pp. 309-328