Tag

Maternal Behavior

All articles tagged with #maternal behavior

science1 year ago•3 min saved

"Unique Video Captures Worm-Like Creature Feeding Young with Butt 'Milk'"

In a first-of-its-kind video, a female Brazilian ringed caecilian was documented feeding its offspring with a milk-like substance secreted from its anus, marking the first time this behavior has been observed in caecilians. The offspring communicate with physical touch and sounds to encourage the mother to release the liquid, which is rich in long chain fatty acids. This discovery sheds light on the little-understood maternal care and reproductive behaviors of caecilians, opening new areas of research for amphibian biology and evolutionary biology.

via Livescience.com|

#amphibians #caecilians #evolutionary-biology

biology2 years ago•3 min saved

"Wrens' Remarkable Ability: Teaching Songs to Unhatched Offspring"

Female fairywrens in Australia have been discovered singing to their unhatched eggs, and their offspring learn and repeat parts of these songs after hatching. This behavior has been observed in eight related species and suggests that female birdsong is not an evolutionary mistake but serves an important purpose. The study sheds light on the role of maternal behavior and in ovo learning in avian evolution, challenging historical assumptions about female birdsong and providing insights into the cultural transmission of traits in bird populations.

via ScienceAlert|

#avian-evolution #biology #bird-behavior

neuroscience2 years ago•24 min saved

Unveiling the Neural Circuitry Behind Maternal Response to Infant Cries

Researchers have identified the neural circuitry involved in the release of oxytocin, a hormone associated with maternal behavior, in response to infant cries. Using fiber photometry, the study found that specific populations of oxytocin neurons in the thalamus and hypothalamus are activated by infant vocalizations. The activation of these neurons promotes maternal behavior and bonding. This research provides insights into the neurobiology of maternal responses and may have implications for understanding postpartum anxiety and depression.

via Nature.com|

#fiber-photometry #infant-cries #maternal-behavior

neuroscience2 years ago•5 min saved

The Science of Motherhood: How Pregnancy Rewires the Brain

Researchers have reviewed the scientific literature on the neurobiological adaptations that occur during pregnancy and postpartum in humans and other animals. They found that hormonal fluctuations, particularly estrogens, induce brain plasticity during these periods. Pregnancy leads to changes in brain structure, specifically a reduction in gray matter in regions associated with social relations, which can last for at least two years after giving birth. However, the complex relationship between hormones, brain adaptations, and maternal behavior still requires further exploration. The study highlights the need for more research on women to better understand the unique aspects of human motherhood.

via Neuroscience News|

#brain-plasticity #hormones #maternal-behavior

neuroscience2 years ago•6 min saved

The Influence of Immune Cells on Maternal Behavior

Changes in the immune system during pregnancy, specifically the decrease of immune cells known as microglia, may contribute to the onset of maternal behavior. Depletion of microglia in female rats, who typically dislike being around offspring, led to accelerated care for newborn rats placed in their cages. This behavior change correlated with shifts in neuron activity in various brain regions, indicating that immune function alterations might regulate maternal behavior. The research challenges the conventional understanding that hormones primarily drive maternal behavior, emphasizing the importance of immune changes.

via Neuroscience News|

#immune-system #maternal-behavior #microglia

neuroscience2 years ago•5 min saved

Mouse Brain Circuit Linked to Infanticide Triggers Identified

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.

via Neuroscience News|

#bnstpr #brain-mechanism #female-mice