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EMIS AKBARI

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Professor and Coordinator, School of Early Childhood, George Brown College.
Senior Policy Fellow, Atkinson Centre for Society and Child Development, OISE
Adjunct Professor, Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, University of Toronto

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Douglas H Clements

University of Denver

The University of Sheffield

University of East London

University of Aberdeen

Indiana University

Konstantinos Dinas

University of Western Macedonia (UOWM)

Universidad de los Andes (Colombia)

Elisabet Almeda Samaranch

Universitat de Barcelona

Agustin Santella

Universidad de Buenos Aires

Kocaeli University

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Books by EMIS AKBARI

Coronavirus school closures could widen inequities for our youngest students

The Conversation, 2020

Early Childhood Education Report 2014

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION REPORT 2017

by Kerry McCuaig and EMIS AKBARI

Established in 2011 the Early Childhood Education Report is released every three years to evalua... more Established in 2011 the Early Childhood Education Report is released every three years to evaluate the quality of provincial/territorial early years services against a 15-point scale. Results are populated from detailed profiles of each jurisdiction. The report is organized around five categories with 19 benchmarks forming a common set of minimum criteria contributing to the delivery of quality programming.

Papers by EMIS AKBARI

Global Report on Equity and Early Childhood

FEASIBILITY STUDY of UNIVERSAL AFFORDABLE DAY CARE in the NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

The development of a measure of maternal cognitive sensitivity appropriate for use in primary care health settings

Background: Parental responsivity is important to children's cognitive and socioemotional develop... more Background: Parental responsivity is important to children's cognitive and socioemotional development, yet is under-represented in primary healthcare, because the measurement is specialized and time-consuming. Methods: The current study developed a measure of maternal cognitive sensitivity (CS), which uses impression-istic ratings based on brief observations of parent-child interaction when children are 3 years old. Results: Using data from a longitudinal cohort (Time 1, N = 501), the CS measure had good psychometric properties, was significantly related to a gold-standard maternal responsivity measure, and was predicted by the same socio-demographic factors predictive of other measures of parental responsivity. Finally, a well-established pathway from socioeconomic risk (child age 2 months) to compromised parenting (child age 3 years) to negative child outcome (child age 4.5 years) was demonstrated with CS as the mediator. Conclusion: The maternal CS measure is brief, can be easily trained, and takes 8 min to administer and code, making it potentially useful in primary healthcare settings.

Effects of Early Deprivation and Maternal Separation on Pup-Directed Behavior and HPA Axis Measures in the Juvenile Female Rat

Juvenile female rats show maternal-like behavior toward pups. The purpose of the following experi... more Juvenile female rats show maternal-like behavior toward pups. The purpose of the following experiment was to investigate whether the HPA axis, through the use of early separation manipulations that alter HPA functioning in rats, plays a role in the juvenile response to foster pups. Female rats were early deprived or maternally separated for 5 hours daily from PND 2 to 14 and compared to animal facility-reared rats. Deprivation or separation increased CRH-R1 IR in the juvenile PVN, but had no other effects on other HPA measures or on maternal behavior. Pup-exposure during the juvenile period blunted corticosterone levels after acute and repeated pup-exposures when compared to exposure to novelty and conspecifics respectively. Repeated exposures to pups also increased CRH-R1 IR relative to isolation during the juvenile period. Overall, the data suggest that although pup-exposure affects corticosterone levels, the HPA axis does not relate to juvenile maternal behavior in the present experiments. ß 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 50: 315-321, 2008.

SCHOOLS AT THE CENTRE Findings from Case Studies Exploring Seamless Early Learning in Ontario

The Effects of Parity and Maternal Behavior on Gene Expression in the Medial Preoptic Area and the Medial Amygdala in Postpartum and Virgin Female Rats: A Microarray Study

To determine the pattern of gene expression in brains associated with mothering during the postpa... more To determine the pattern of gene expression in brains associated with mothering during the postpartum period, in the present study we assessed gene expression through microarrays in four groups of female rats: two groups of new mothers that were experiencing the hormonal and neurochemical changes associated with pregnancy and parturition, and two groups of virgin females that were not. Within each of these parity groups we assessed one group of animals that was exposed to and responded to pups and engaged in maternal behavior, and one group left without any exposure to pups and therefore had no maternal experience. We explored the pattern of expression of genes related to the hormones, neurotransmitters, and modulatory neuropeptides associated with maternal behavior within the medial preoptic area (MPOA) and the medial amygdala (MeA) in the rat. Within the MPOA there were significant main effects of pup exposure for the dopamine-related genes (DRD4 and dopamine transporter, DAT), the glucocorticoid-related gene (CYPX1B1a), the opioid receptor-1 gene (OPRM1) and the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor gene (GABAbRid). OPRM1 and the serotonin-related gene that regulates biosynthesis of serotonin (5HTR2A) showed a main effect of parity. For both sets of analyses, higher gene expression was associated with pup exposure and parity. Genes expressed in the MeA tended to reside in the glucocorticoid family. The microarrays were able to identify, on a transcriptional level, a list of candidate genes involved in maternal behavior and the factors that surround it.

Spatial working memory and attention skills are predicted by maternal stress during pregnancy

Introduction: Experimental evidence in rodents shows that maternal stress during pregnancy (MSDP)... more Introduction: Experimental evidence in rodents shows that maternal stress during pregnancy (MSDP) negatively impacts spatial learning and memory in the offspring. We aim to investigate the association between MSDP (i.e., life events) and spatial working memory, as well as attention skills (attention shifting and attention focusing), in humans. The moderating roles of child sex, maternal anxiety during pregnancy and postnatal care are also investigated. Methods: Participants were 236 mother-child dyads that were followed from the second trimester of pregnancy until 4 years postpartum. Measurements included questionnaires and independent observations. Results: MSDP was negatively associated with attention shifting at 18 months when concurrent maternal anxiety was low. MSDP was associated with poorer spatial working memory at 4 years of age, but only for boys who experienced poorer postnatal care. Conclusion: Consistent with results observed in rodents, MSDP was found to be associated with spatial working memory and attention skills. These results point to postnatal care and maternal anxiety during pregnancy as potential targets for interventions that aim to buffer children from the detrimental effects of MSDP.

A Meta-Analysis of Maternal Prenatal Depression and Anxiety on Child Socio-Emotional Development Author listing

Objective: Observed associations between maternal prenatal stress and children's socioemotional d... more Objective: Observed associations between maternal prenatal stress and children's socioemotional development have varied widely in the literature. The objective of the current study was to provide a synthesis of studies examining maternal prenatal anxiety and depression and the socio-emotional development of their children.

Callosal oligodendrocyte number in postpartum Sprague-Dawley rats

Prolactin (PRL), an anterior pituitary hormone with neurogenic properties associated with pregnan... more Prolactin (PRL), an anterior pituitary hormone with neurogenic properties associated with pregnancy, has been implicated in oligodendrocyte proliferation during gestation, contributing to increased myelination in the maternal brain. However, PRL is elevated during lactation as well, suggesting that the postpartum (PP) period may contribute to additional gliogenesis in lactating females. In the present study, we assessed oligodendrocyte number in the corpus callosum (CC) of female Sprague-Dawley rats near the end of gestation, and at two weeks postpartum in both lactating and non-lactating dams, and in virgins. Though pregnant females did not differ significantly from any other group, lactating females had significantly more oligodendrocytes in the CC than virgins (p = .01), and in medial regions of the CC than non-lactating dams (p < .02). Oligodendrocyte number in the CC of pregnant and PP females correlated positively with the number of pups in their litter (r 2 = .68, p < .005). These results suggest that the gestational period contributes to oligodendrocyte proliferation or survival, likely mediated by an endocrine hormone whose concentration varies with the size of the litter. The PP period also contributes to increases in CC oligodendrocyte number, though it is unclear whether endocrine influences and/or pup-interaction underlie the differences in myelination between lactating and non-lactating groups. Further investigation is required in order to confirm whether the effects observed are mediated by members of the PRL-family, experience, and/or other gestational/ PP endocrine hormones.

Coronavirus school closures could widen inequities for our youngest students

The Conversation, 2020

Early Childhood Education Report 2014

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION REPORT 2017

by Kerry McCuaig and EMIS AKBARI

Established in 2011 the Early Childhood Education Report is released every three years to evalua... more Established in 2011 the Early Childhood Education Report is released every three years to evaluate the quality of provincial/territorial early years services against a 15-point scale. Results are populated from detailed profiles of each jurisdiction. The report is organized around five categories with 19 benchmarks forming a common set of minimum criteria contributing to the delivery of quality programming.

Global Report on Equity and Early Childhood

FEASIBILITY STUDY of UNIVERSAL AFFORDABLE DAY CARE in the NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

The development of a measure of maternal cognitive sensitivity appropriate for use in primary care health settings

Background: Parental responsivity is important to children's cognitive and socioemotional develop... more Background: Parental responsivity is important to children's cognitive and socioemotional development, yet is under-represented in primary healthcare, because the measurement is specialized and time-consuming. Methods: The current study developed a measure of maternal cognitive sensitivity (CS), which uses impression-istic ratings based on brief observations of parent-child interaction when children are 3 years old. Results: Using data from a longitudinal cohort (Time 1, N = 501), the CS measure had good psychometric properties, was significantly related to a gold-standard maternal responsivity measure, and was predicted by the same socio-demographic factors predictive of other measures of parental responsivity. Finally, a well-established pathway from socioeconomic risk (child age 2 months) to compromised parenting (child age 3 years) to negative child outcome (child age 4.5 years) was demonstrated with CS as the mediator. Conclusion: The maternal CS measure is brief, can be easily trained, and takes 8 min to administer and code, making it potentially useful in primary healthcare settings.

Effects of Early Deprivation and Maternal Separation on Pup-Directed Behavior and HPA Axis Measures in the Juvenile Female Rat

Juvenile female rats show maternal-like behavior toward pups. The purpose of the following experi... more Juvenile female rats show maternal-like behavior toward pups. The purpose of the following experiment was to investigate whether the HPA axis, through the use of early separation manipulations that alter HPA functioning in rats, plays a role in the juvenile response to foster pups. Female rats were early deprived or maternally separated for 5 hours daily from PND 2 to 14 and compared to animal facility-reared rats. Deprivation or separation increased CRH-R1 IR in the juvenile PVN, but had no other effects on other HPA measures or on maternal behavior. Pup-exposure during the juvenile period blunted corticosterone levels after acute and repeated pup-exposures when compared to exposure to novelty and conspecifics respectively. Repeated exposures to pups also increased CRH-R1 IR relative to isolation during the juvenile period. Overall, the data suggest that although pup-exposure affects corticosterone levels, the HPA axis does not relate to juvenile maternal behavior in the present experiments. ß 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 50: 315-321, 2008.

SCHOOLS AT THE CENTRE Findings from Case Studies Exploring Seamless Early Learning in Ontario

The Effects of Parity and Maternal Behavior on Gene Expression in the Medial Preoptic Area and the Medial Amygdala in Postpartum and Virgin Female Rats: A Microarray Study

To determine the pattern of gene expression in brains associated with mothering during the postpa... more To determine the pattern of gene expression in brains associated with mothering during the postpartum period, in the present study we assessed gene expression through microarrays in four groups of female rats: two groups of new mothers that were experiencing the hormonal and neurochemical changes associated with pregnancy and parturition, and two groups of virgin females that were not. Within each of these parity groups we assessed one group of animals that was exposed to and responded to pups and engaged in maternal behavior, and one group left without any exposure to pups and therefore had no maternal experience. We explored the pattern of expression of genes related to the hormones, neurotransmitters, and modulatory neuropeptides associated with maternal behavior within the medial preoptic area (MPOA) and the medial amygdala (MeA) in the rat. Within the MPOA there were significant main effects of pup exposure for the dopamine-related genes (DRD4 and dopamine transporter, DAT), the glucocorticoid-related gene (CYPX1B1a), the opioid receptor-1 gene (OPRM1) and the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor gene (GABAbRid). OPRM1 and the serotonin-related gene that regulates biosynthesis of serotonin (5HTR2A) showed a main effect of parity. For both sets of analyses, higher gene expression was associated with pup exposure and parity. Genes expressed in the MeA tended to reside in the glucocorticoid family. The microarrays were able to identify, on a transcriptional level, a list of candidate genes involved in maternal behavior and the factors that surround it.

Spatial working memory and attention skills are predicted by maternal stress during pregnancy

Introduction: Experimental evidence in rodents shows that maternal stress during pregnancy (MSDP)... more Introduction: Experimental evidence in rodents shows that maternal stress during pregnancy (MSDP) negatively impacts spatial learning and memory in the offspring. We aim to investigate the association between MSDP (i.e., life events) and spatial working memory, as well as attention skills (attention shifting and attention focusing), in humans. The moderating roles of child sex, maternal anxiety during pregnancy and postnatal care are also investigated. Methods: Participants were 236 mother-child dyads that were followed from the second trimester of pregnancy until 4 years postpartum. Measurements included questionnaires and independent observations. Results: MSDP was negatively associated with attention shifting at 18 months when concurrent maternal anxiety was low. MSDP was associated with poorer spatial working memory at 4 years of age, but only for boys who experienced poorer postnatal care. Conclusion: Consistent with results observed in rodents, MSDP was found to be associated with spatial working memory and attention skills. These results point to postnatal care and maternal anxiety during pregnancy as potential targets for interventions that aim to buffer children from the detrimental effects of MSDP.

A Meta-Analysis of Maternal Prenatal Depression and Anxiety on Child Socio-Emotional Development Author listing

Objective: Observed associations between maternal prenatal stress and children's socioemotional d... more Objective: Observed associations between maternal prenatal stress and children's socioemotional development have varied widely in the literature. The objective of the current study was to provide a synthesis of studies examining maternal prenatal anxiety and depression and the socio-emotional development of their children.

Callosal oligodendrocyte number in postpartum Sprague-Dawley rats

Prolactin (PRL), an anterior pituitary hormone with neurogenic properties associated with pregnan... more Prolactin (PRL), an anterior pituitary hormone with neurogenic properties associated with pregnancy, has been implicated in oligodendrocyte proliferation during gestation, contributing to increased myelination in the maternal brain. However, PRL is elevated during lactation as well, suggesting that the postpartum (PP) period may contribute to additional gliogenesis in lactating females. In the present study, we assessed oligodendrocyte number in the corpus callosum (CC) of female Sprague-Dawley rats near the end of gestation, and at two weeks postpartum in both lactating and non-lactating dams, and in virgins. Though pregnant females did not differ significantly from any other group, lactating females had significantly more oligodendrocytes in the CC than virgins (p = .01), and in medial regions of the CC than non-lactating dams (p < .02). Oligodendrocyte number in the CC of pregnant and PP females correlated positively with the number of pups in their litter (r 2 = .68, p < .005). These results suggest that the gestational period contributes to oligodendrocyte proliferation or survival, likely mediated by an endocrine hormone whose concentration varies with the size of the litter. The PP period also contributes to increases in CC oligodendrocyte number, though it is unclear whether endocrine influences and/or pup-interaction underlie the differences in myelination between lactating and non-lactating groups. Further investigation is required in order to confirm whether the effects observed are mediated by members of the PRL-family, experience, and/or other gestational/ PP endocrine hormones.