BackgroundEarly regulatory problems (RPs), i.e., problems with crying, sleeping, and/or feeding during the first years, increase the risk for avoidant personality traits in adulthood, associated with social withdrawal and anxiety. Even more, RPs are linked with functional alterations in the adult default mode and salience networks, comprising the brain's allostatic‐interoceptive system (AIS) and playing a role in social interactions. We investigated whether RPs assessed in infancy are associated with difficulties in adult peer relationships mediated by functional alterations of the AIS.MethodsAs part of a large case‐controlled prospective study, 42 adults with previous RPs and 70 matched controls (mean age = 28.48, SD = 2.65, 51% male) underwent fMRI during rest. The analysis focused on the intrinsic functional connectivity (iFC) of key nodes of the AIS. Peer relationship quality was assessed via a semi‐structured Life Course Interview and the YASR scale. In these same individuals, RPs were assessed at ages 5, 20 and 56 months.ResultsRPs in infancy were associated with lower‐quality peer relationships and enhanced functional connectivity of the AIS nodes in adulthood, with a stronger effect for multiple and persistent RPs compared with transient‐multiple or single‐persistent RPs. Importantly, iFC changes of the dorsal mid insula, a primary interoceptive cortex with frontal and temporal regions, mediated the relationship between early RPs and adult peer relationship quality.ConclusionsResults indicate long‐lasting social and neural changes associated with early RPs. Our findings further implicate the AIS in both interoceptive and social processes, while indicating the need for early screening of early RPs.

中文翻译：

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早期调节问题与成人同伴关系质量之间的关联是由大脑的异稳态内感受系统介导的


背景早期调节问题（RP），即出生后第一年的哭泣、睡眠和/或进食问题，会增加成年后出现回避型人格特征的风险，并与社交退缩和焦虑相关。更重要的是，RP 与成人默认模式和显着网络的功能改变有关，这些网络包括大脑的非稳态内感受系统（AIS）并在社交互动中发挥作用。我们调查了婴儿期评估的 RP 是否与 AIS 功能改变介导的成年同伴关系困难相关。 方法作为大型病例对照前瞻性研究的一部分，42 名曾有 RP 的成年人和 70 名匹配的对照者（平均年龄 = 28.48 岁，标清= 2.65，51% 男性）在休息期间接受了功能磁共振成像。分析重点是 AIS 关键节点的内在功能连接 (iFC)。同伴关系质量通过半结构化生命历程访谈和 YASR 量表进行评估。在这些相同的个体中，在 5、20 和 56 个月时对 RP 进行了评估。结果婴儿期的 RP 与同伴关系质量较低以及成年期 AIS 节点的功能连接增强有关，与成年期相比，多次和持续的 RP 的影响更强。短暂的多个或单个持久的 RP。重要的是，背中岛叶（具有额叶和颞区的初级内感受皮层）的 iFC 变化介导了早期 RP 与成人同伴关系质量之间的关系。结论结果表明与早期 RP 相关的长期社会和神经变化。我们的研究结果进一步表明 AIS 参与了内感受和社会过程，同时表明需要对早期 RP 进行早期筛查。