Background

How can we measure attachment?

Attachment arises from a complex interplay between psychological, behavioural, biological, and brain processes.

It can be measured by traditional attachment tools like behavioural observation, interviews and self-reports.

Attachment can also be measured by social neuroscience methods like physiology (e.g., heart rate), endocrinology (e.g., cortisol or oxytocin secretion) and neuroimaging (brain activation, structure and connectivity).

Purpose

Why do we need SoNeAt?

Social neuroscience data not only adds value but is necessary to fully understand the complex nature of attachment.

A social neuroscience perspective to attachment matters – without it, we are missing several important pieces of the puzzle.

We also need to make sure that we all use the same attachment language. SoNeAt can help providing a common scientific basis and terminology for fruitful discussions across fields.

Research

How does SoNeAt work?

Social neuroscience methods provide objective data obtained from single individuals or interacting dyads.

This data can then be used to formulate theory, such as the functional neuro-anatomical models of organised and disorganised attachment – NAMA and NAMDA.

Dr Vrticka‘s SoNeAt Lab and SIRG SoNeAt are leading in this approach, promoting a new area of research: the social neuroscience of human attachment (SoNeAt).

Is your brain securely attached?

Do you want to read a concise and accessible summary of the social neuroscience of human attachment? Then this series is made for you! So far, there are two posts available – Volume 2 published on 07 December 2022 and Volume 1 published on 19 May 2022.

Confusion about Attachment Language

In his latest piece for The Conversation UK, Dr Vrticka writes about “Attachment theory: what people get wrong about pop psychology’s latest trend for explaining relationships“. Excellent resources to avoid further confusion about attachment language have been provided by the Society for Emotion and Attachment Studies (SEAS) by means of a free online guide. More posts, including many blog entries relating to various aspects of Dr Vrticka’s research can be accessed here.

What about Dads?

Dr Vrticka wrote a blog post for Dadvengers about the social neuroscience of attachment and caregiving in fathers: “Are Dads Wired Differently – The Truth About Becoming A Dad“. More detailed information and additional resources are available in the website section “Caring Dads“.

Free Book for Parents

The UK Charity Babygro has recently published their Babygro Book for parents, based on Dr Vrticka’s work on the social neuroscience of human attachment. It can be accessed freely here. The book is a great resource for new parents and illustrates in pictures rather than words how our babies’ brains develop and how responsive communication between parent and baby leads to later life (mental) health and wellbeing.

Attachment Theory & Social Neuroscience – Why?

A summary of attachment theory from a social neuroscientist’s perspective can be found here. This includes the recently formulated functional neuro-anatomical models of organised and disorganised attachment – NAMA and NAMDA. A short and accessible summary on “Why attachment matters in social neuroscience” can be found in Dr Vrticka’s blog post for Scottish Attachment in Action (SAIA).

Attachment, energy conservation and co-regulation

How are attachment, social connection and energy conservation through social allostasis all linked to one another? Check out this accessible summary of our newest theory as part of SoNeAt.