Development of the Ontogenetic Self-Regulation Clock
To date, there is no overarching proposition for the ontogenetic-neurobiological basis of self-regulation. This paper suggests that the balanced self-regulatory reaction of the fetus, newborn and infant is based on a complex mechanism starting from early brainstem development and continuing to progr...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/2/993 |
| _version_ | 1797493161667330048 |
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| author | Sari Goldstein Ferber Aron Weller Michal Ben-Shachar Gil Klinger Ronny Geva |
| author_facet | Sari Goldstein Ferber Aron Weller Michal Ben-Shachar Gil Klinger Ronny Geva |
| author_sort | Sari Goldstein Ferber |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | To date, there is no overarching proposition for the ontogenetic-neurobiological basis of self-regulation. This paper suggests that the balanced self-regulatory reaction of the fetus, newborn and infant is based on a complex mechanism starting from early brainstem development and continuing to progressive control of the cortex over the brainstem. It is suggested that this balance occurs through the synchronous reactivity between the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems, both which originate from the brainstem. The paper presents an evidence-based approach in which molecular excitation-inhibition balance, interchanges between excitatory and inhibitory roles of neurotransmitters as well as cardiovascular and white matter development across gestational ages, are shown to create sympathetic-parasympathetic synchrony, including the postnatal development of electroencephalogram waves and vagal tone. These occur in developmental milestones detectable in the same time windows (sensitive periods of development) within a convergent systematic progress. This ontogenetic stepwise process is termed “the self-regulation clock” and suggest that this clock is located in the largest connection between the brainstem and the cortex, the corticospinal tract. This novel evidence-based new theory paves the way towards more accurate hypotheses and complex studies of self-regulation and its biological basis, as well as pointing to time windows for interventions in preterm infants. The paper also describes the developing indirect signaling between the suprachiasmatic nucleus and the corticospinal tract. Finally, the paper proposes novel hypotheses for molecular, structural and functional investigation of the “clock” circuitry, including its associations with other biological clocks. This complex circuitry is suggested to be responsible for the developing self-regulatory functions and their neurobehavioral correlates. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:16:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-56c359d80bf54d67926075ff5bbd20e8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:16:02Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-56c359d80bf54d67926075ff5bbd20e82023-11-23T14:07:58ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672022-01-0123299310.3390/ijms23020993Development of the Ontogenetic Self-Regulation ClockSari Goldstein Ferber0Aron Weller1Michal Ben-Shachar2Gil Klinger3Ronny Geva4Department of Psychology, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, IsraelDepartment of Psychology, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, IsraelThe Leslie and Susan Gonda (Goldschmied) Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, IsraelDepartment of Neonatology, Schneider Children’s Medical Center, Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv University, Petach Tikvah 4920235, IsraelDepartment of Psychology, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, IsraelTo date, there is no overarching proposition for the ontogenetic-neurobiological basis of self-regulation. This paper suggests that the balanced self-regulatory reaction of the fetus, newborn and infant is based on a complex mechanism starting from early brainstem development and continuing to progressive control of the cortex over the brainstem. It is suggested that this balance occurs through the synchronous reactivity between the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems, both which originate from the brainstem. The paper presents an evidence-based approach in which molecular excitation-inhibition balance, interchanges between excitatory and inhibitory roles of neurotransmitters as well as cardiovascular and white matter development across gestational ages, are shown to create sympathetic-parasympathetic synchrony, including the postnatal development of electroencephalogram waves and vagal tone. These occur in developmental milestones detectable in the same time windows (sensitive periods of development) within a convergent systematic progress. This ontogenetic stepwise process is termed “the self-regulation clock” and suggest that this clock is located in the largest connection between the brainstem and the cortex, the corticospinal tract. This novel evidence-based new theory paves the way towards more accurate hypotheses and complex studies of self-regulation and its biological basis, as well as pointing to time windows for interventions in preterm infants. The paper also describes the developing indirect signaling between the suprachiasmatic nucleus and the corticospinal tract. Finally, the paper proposes novel hypotheses for molecular, structural and functional investigation of the “clock” circuitry, including its associations with other biological clocks. This complex circuitry is suggested to be responsible for the developing self-regulatory functions and their neurobehavioral correlates.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/2/993self-regulationcorticospinal tractautonomic nervous systemheart rate variabilityEEGwhite matter |
| spellingShingle | Sari Goldstein Ferber Aron Weller Michal Ben-Shachar Gil Klinger Ronny Geva Development of the Ontogenetic Self-Regulation Clock International Journal of Molecular Sciences self-regulation corticospinal tract autonomic nervous system heart rate variability EEG white matter |
| title | Development of the Ontogenetic Self-Regulation Clock |
| title_full | Development of the Ontogenetic Self-Regulation Clock |
| title_fullStr | Development of the Ontogenetic Self-Regulation Clock |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development of the Ontogenetic Self-Regulation Clock |
| title_short | Development of the Ontogenetic Self-Regulation Clock |
| title_sort | development of the ontogenetic self regulation clock |
| topic | self-regulation corticospinal tract autonomic nervous system heart rate variability EEG white matter |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/2/993 |
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