# Effects of Prenatal Opioid Exposure on Infant Autonomic Physiology

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE · 2020 · $45,520

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The increasing prevalence of opioid dependence among pregnant women is a major public health concern,
partially because prenatal opioid exposure is associated with a range of adverse neurodevelopmental and
medical outcomes for infants. Prenatal opioid exposure has been associated with atypical autonomic nervous
system (ANS) functioning in the first days of life, but there have been few investigations later in development.
Further, although prenatal opioid exposure is frequently accompanied by exposure to other substances, few
studies account for polysubstance exposure. Thus, the unique effects of prenatal opioid exposure on
autonomic functioning are not well understood. [In addition, although the postnatal caregiving environment may
moderate the effect of opioid exposure on infant functioning, parenting quality as a moderator of prenatal
opioid exposure has received relatively little attention.] Autonomic dysregulation has important implications for
physical and mental health, so determining the degree to which prenatal opioid exposure affects infant ANS
functioning, and identifying modifiable moderators of this effect, are critical steps to inform treatment.
Consistent with NIH’s programmatic interests (i.e., the HEAL Initiative), the proposed study will assess the
effect of prenatal opioid exposure on infant ANS regulation at six months of age [and will examine parenting
quality as a modifiable moderator of this effect.] As part of a larger randomized controlled trial, the proposed
study will [examine the effect of opioid exposure within a group of women receiving medication-assisted
treatment for opioid dependence (e.g., methadone).] Substance exposure information will be collected with a
validated interview (the Timeline Followback) with mothers during pregnancy and when infants are six months
old. [Parenting quality will be assessed via observational coding of a video-recorded free play activity when
infants are six months old.] Two indicators of infant ANS functioning will also be collected at six months:
respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and cardiac pre-ejection period (PEP). Infant RSA and PEP will be
measured at rest and in response to a social stressor (the still-face paradigm). The proposed study will
determine the degree to which prenatal opioid exposure is related to infant autonomic activity at six months of
age, [and will examine parenting quality as a moderator of this effect.] Because receiving medication-assisted
treatment (MAT) during pregnancy is the current standard of care for opioid-dependent pregnant women,
understanding the impact of prenatal opioid exposure, and identifying malleable moderators of this effect, are
critical steps to identify treatment targets and inform treatment planning for women and their infants. The
proposed plan includes advanced training for the applicant in ANS, prenatal substance exposure, parenting,
and community-based research.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9992353
- **Project number:** 1F31DA050426-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE
- **Principal Investigator:** Alexandra Tabachnick
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $45,520
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-06-01 → 2023-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9992353

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9992353, Effects of Prenatal Opioid Exposure on Infant Autonomic Physiology (1F31DA050426-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9992353. Licensed CC0.

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