The Associations Between Insecure Attachment Dimensions and Neural Activations During Socio‐Affective Stimuli Tasks According to Age: A Systematic Review and an Activation Likelihood Estimation Meta‐Analysis

A growing number of studies examined the neural correlates of insecure attachment dimensions. Attachment strategies can shift across the lifespan as individuals encounter new interpersonal and emotional experiences. Additionally, neural changes during development may influence these strategies. A systematic review and an activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis were conducted to examine the associations between insecure attachment dimensions and brain activations during socio-affective stimuli tasks according to age. The review adhered to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and was registered on PROSPERO. The research identified 1743 articles, of which 15 were included. The results showed that, in younger individuals, the avoidant attachment dimension was associated both negatively and positively with activations in limbic regions, located at the level of Brodmann Area (BA) 13 (insula) and the medial globus pallidus and amygdala, while in older individuals, it was associated only negatively with sub-lobar activations in the caudate tail. Moreover, in younger individuals, the anxious attachment dimension was associated both negatively and positively with activations in several heterogeneous neural areas. Differently, in older individuals, the anxious attachment dimension showed only positive associations with neural activations, particularly in limbic regions, located at the level of BA 35 (parahippocampus) and 38 (temporal pole). These preliminary findings suggest potential differences in the neural correlates of insecure attachment according to age. It could be supposed that younger individuals have more flexible and less structured attachment-related regulatory strategies than older individuals, suggesting relevant clinical implications for attachment-based psychological interventions.