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Bnstpr

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Mouse Brain Circuit Linked to Infanticide Triggers Identified

Originally Published 2 years ago — by Neuroscience News

A recent study has identified a mid-brain region, the principal nucleus of the bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BNSTpr), as a trigger for infanticide in female mice. Blocking this region chemically prevented infanticide almost completely, while artificially activating it led to killings in nearly all instances. The study also revealed the BNSTpr’s antagonistic relationship with the medial preoptic area (MPOA), a brain region known to promote maternal behavior. The findings could play a similar role in better understanding infanticide by women, as the BNSTpr region is also present in humans.

health neuroscience bnstpr brain-mechanism female-mice infanticide maternal-behavior neuroscience

The Neuroscience of Maternal Infanticide in Females.

Originally Published 2 years ago — by News-Medical.Net

A new study in mice has identified a middle-brain region called the principal nucleus of the bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BNSTpr) that is linked to the control of emotions and likely prompts females to kill their young. The study showed that chemically blocking the BNSTpr prevented infanticide nearly 100% of the time, while artificially activating the brain region caused both mothers and females without offspring to kill pups in nearly all trials. The investigation also revealed that the BNSTpr appears to work in opposition to a brain region called the medial preoptic area (MPOA), itself known to promote mothering behavior.

science neuroscience bnstpr brain-mechanisms female-mice infanticide mpoa neuroscience