The Influence of Pre- and Postnatal Factors on Early Behavior Formation

Abstract

The maternal impact on the early behavioral responses in pups was studied in cross-fostering experiments with the newborn Wistar rats (the primiparous females were fostering the pups born to the females parturiated for the second time and vise versa). The maternal experience had a significant influence on the function development in both pre- and postnatal periods. Specific features of prenatal ontogeny of pups born by experienced females resulted in further, more stable development of the early behavioral responses. In the postnatal period, the maternal experience determined synchronization of the behavioral responses, which promoted the formation of the functional systems important for the newborn survival.