Fundamental Biobehavioral Mechanisms Underlying the Integrated Development of Emotion, Attachment, and Nutritive Intake in the Mother-Infant Dyad

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to understand the biobehavioral mechanisms involved in how emotion, attachment, and nutritive intake develop together in mothers and their infants. The study specifically explores how this system relates to maternal feeding behavior, child eating habits, dietary intake, and body fat. Participants are infants enrolled in a related long-term observational study, NCT06039878. The study involves 150 children from the observational study who will participate in an interventional task at around 18 and 36 months of age. During this task, children are given the chance to press a button to earn rewards including high-reward foods, low-reward foods, and non-food items. This approach assesses the Relative Reinforcing Value (RRV) of food. Participants will be monitored during these sessions, and researchers will collect data on the children's responses to the rewards. The primary outcome is measuring the RRV of food at approximately 36 months. The study is conducted by the University of Michigan and includes behavioral assessments without masking or blinding. Participation ties into the long-term observational study with a total of 150 children involved in this interventional task.

Mother-Baby Study - Relative Reinforcing Value (RRV)