Costanzo shares his experience of attending the International Attachment Conference in Rouen last July.
Between the 15th and 17th of July 2024, in Rouen (France), researchers gathered for the International Attachment Conference. It was an opportunity for me to attend presentations by many experts in the field.
Keynote speakers from all over the world shared the latest developments in the study of mother-child relationships. In particular, Prof. Lyons-Ruth, who received an award for her outstanding research career from the Society for Emotion and Attachment Studies, reviewed the issue of neglect and discussed how it can be the earliest form of threat in human infancy.
My interest focused on the symposia that explored the neurobiological basis of attachment. In this context, the talks on the role of maternal touch and oxytocin in the formation of the mother-child bond were particularly noteworthy.
Indeed, the main studies have primarily focused on top-down processing, mainly investigating aspects related to cognitive functioning, while insufficiently exploring the role of the body in the dyadic relationship.
However, interesting new studies in both animals and humans, conducted over the last twenty years, have highlighted how affective touch plays a central role in caregiving during the early stages of development. These studies show how affective touch is linked to epigenetic processes and has a significant impact on later-life outcomes for infants.
The longitudinal research I am conducting, in collaboration with various European researchers, focuses on these and other aspects.
During the conference I had the opportunity to present a poster titled “Prenatal Attachment State of Mind and Maternal Bonding 6 Months After Birth: The Role of Maternal Stress.” It was an important opportunity to receive feedback and exchange ideas with other PhD students, as well as to gain valuable advice and insights from more experienced researchers.
I am grateful for this opportunity to Professors Chris Murgatroyd, Neil Dagnall, Francis McGlone, Cesar Venero Nunez, Daniel Schechter, Nicola Carone, Laura Vismara, and my other collaborators Dr Mauro Congia and Dr Frank Corrigan. My deepest thanks, however, go to Prof. Maria Isabel Cordero for making this work possible.
