Erwen Niño M.

Dadea AB-Psychology 2nd year Developmental Psychology

Research Article Title: Neural responses for evaluating self and mother traits in adolescence depend on mother–adolescent
relationships
Research Author/s: Renske van der Cruijsen, Renate Buisman, Kayla Green, Sabine Peters and Eveline Crone
I. Summary of Article
Research Objectives
The research article ‘aimed to gain a better understanding of the behavioral and neural correlates of the mother–
adolescent relationship by combining (i) mothers’ and adolescents’ self-reported evaluations of each other, (ii) real-life
observations of mother–adolescent interactions and (iii) fMRI-measurements of evaluating self vs mother traits.

Research Design
By using self-report, observation and fMRI measures. The research has both the qualities of a qualitative and
quantitative type of research.

Population or Sampling
Researchers investigated neural indicators of the mother–adolescent relationship in adolescents between 11 and 21
years (N=143). All participants were right-handed and reported normal or corrected-to-normal vision. Parents (about their
child, in a phone conversation prior to inclusion) and participants (in an online questionnaire) reported no psychiatric or
neurological diagnoses.

Instrumentation
The researches uses couple of tasks wherein they will observe the behavior and answer both of the adolescent and
their respective parent. This task is the mother–adolescent conflict interaction task. To investigate interaction patterns
between mothers and adolescents. The fMRI task, participants were asked to evaluate how well short trait sentences
described themselves and their mothers on a scale of 1 (not at all) to 4 (completely) by pressing buttons with their index to
little finger of their right hand.

Procedure
All participants and both parents of minors signed informed consent. The University Medical Ethical Committee
approved the study. Participants were pre-screened for MRI contraindications and usage of psychotropic medication. A
radiologist viewed all scans and no clinically relevant findings were observed. And right after they undergone several kinds
of task like self-report analysis, observation, fMRI test

Data Analysis
The data were analyzed using SPM8. A first-order autoregressive model [AR(1)]-corrected for serial
autocorrelations and low-frequency signals were removed using a high-pass filter (120 s). To investigate neural indicators
of the mother–adolescent relationship, researchers performed two whole-brain one sample t-tests for the contrasts
self>control and mother>control, followed by a conjunction analysis.
To test for neural markers of the mother–adolescent relationship, researchers investigated neural responses during
self vs mother evaluations and related these to behavioral measures of the mother–adolescent relationship (mothers’ and
adolescents’ positivity about each other’s traits and warmth, negativity and emotional support in mother–adolescent
interactions). For the behavioral results researchers used Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons (MC) adjusting for
correlated variables

Methodological Limitations
One limitation of the current study is the use of univariate data analyses. A more advanced approach would be the
use of multivariate pattern analyses such as representational similarity analysis. This method would enable the construction
of actual overlapping patterns of neural activation for evaluating the self and evaluating a close other, which would give a
more complete image of the neural mechanisms underlying self- and close other processing compared to the univariate
method.
 Erwen Niño M. Dadea AB-Psychology 2nd year Developmental Psychology
II. Reaction
All biological is psychological and vice-versa it is because any alteration on the physical human brain or adjustment
in brain chemistry will affect the psychological aspect of an individual. Every activity, emotions, and thoughts activated
particular parts of the brain. The pre-frontal cortex of our brain is the responsible part for our thoughts and consciousness
with the use of modern medicine technology in the name of fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) it validates the
notion of this premises because of the presence of activity in this part during thought processing. The study focuses in the
neural responses or brain activity during the thought processing of evaluating self and mother traits in a particular time of
development of adolescence which will depend on mother-adolescent relationships.
After a dramatic and gradual changes in the development from infancy to childhood. In Erik Erikson’s theory of
psychosocial development an individual will now face the new stage of adolescent, now the individual is facing the identity
vs. role confusion stage. This is the time wherein they will set their own identity and failure will lead to confusion. The
research focuses on the neurological basis for the mother adolescent relationship. Adolescent is the time where they too old
to be called kids and too young to be called an adult. This is the time they are practicing being an adult-like person. And
their main role model for this is the caregivers especially their mothers. Since the beginning of development of a child the
main adult that they will look up is their caregivers especially the mother which almost in their side all the time. So, there
is a special bond or connection between them. As the child jumps in the adolescent stage the support of the mother should
be more adaptive. The research findings show that adolescent who received more emotional support, thinking about their
mother might elicit a stronger feeling of reward or self-relevance compared to adolescent with less supportive mothers. And
I agree with this, because of the abrupt changes such as the hormonal imbalances and how the society sees adolescents they
are more prone to confusion and misinterpretations but having a good emotional support from the mother would ease the
worrying and be more guided on how to handle situations and controlling emotions. It relieves the feeling of being alone
and being shocked of the expectations of the surroundings.
Based on my experience in my adolescent even now I consider myself in an adolescent stage years, at least sometimes
my mother give me commendations or a relief comments. One time talk to my mother a said that maybe I am growing too
fast that my years of development is very fast for me it does not sink in to me like for example almost a week from now I
will be in my 20th birthday. It feels that my chronological age does not match my mental age at least in my real life situation.
Maybe in academic I have an advantage or upper hand because since then when I was a kid I trained to be more competitive
of my parents by giving me so much books to read and giving me a high expectation and comparison to other excelling kids
at my age. But in the real world or in practical level I am not confident with my decision making and I always rely on my
mother suggestion. But my parents are positive about me that I can do and handle hard things I do not know what is there
basis but it is a positive emotional support from my parents and it greatly important to me so that I am now trying to build
my confidence and be more independent.
The research also concluded the significant or strong self-focus in mid-adolescence that lead adolescents to
communicate less considerately with their parents. Which is also I observed in myself. Now I am in late adolescents but
during my mid-adolescence I really lessen my communication with my parents I seldom open ay topics about them. And
most of our talks and arguments just ended with quarrelling it is not a good story to tell. But I consider that time as my
naughtiest and weirdest time, it is the time of starting explorations and curiosity. Most at that time my relationship with my
parents is negative I perceived their actions as a way of controlling me which is I really do not like because I am type of
person who believes in discovery learning. The way the control me just made me to doubt in myself that I cannot do
something without them guiding me.

III. References
Cruijsen, R., Buisman, R., Green, K., et al. (2019). Neural responses for evaluating self and mother traits in adolescence
depend on mother–adolescent relationships. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 481-492.
Erwen Niño M. Dadea AB-Psychology 2nd year Developmental Psychology