The neuroendocrinology of primate maternal behavior

Saltzman, Wendy; Maestripieri, Dario

doi:10.1016/j.pnpbp.2010.09.017

Cited by 118 publications

(121 citation statements)

References 151 publications

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“…Thus, chronic peripartum stress can affect both the basal hypercorticism, as well as the attenuated stress responsivity observed in lactation. Together with the findings from human studies, the animal data suggests that an optimal corticosterone/cortisol window exists, in which an elevation above nulliparous/virgin levels is beneficial while the higher levels observed after stress exposure negatively affect maternal care [see also [179] for more details]. Consequently, it is suggested that such stress-induced prevention of these peripartum-associated neuroendocrine adaptations may underlie postpartum mood disorders [1,4,5].…”

Section: Consequences Of Chronic Stress In Pregnancy On Physiology Nmentioning

confidence: 99%

From Stress to Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Disorders: How Chronic Peripartum Stress Can Impair Maternal Adaptations

Hillerer¹,

Neumann²,

Slattery³

2011

Neuroendocrinology

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The peripartum period, in all mammalian species, is characterised by numerous adaptations at neuroendocrine, molecular and behavioural levels that prepare the female for the challenges of motherhood. These changes have been well characterised and, while they are necessary to ensure the survival and nurturance of the offspring, there is growing belief that they are also required for maternal mental health. Thus, while increased calmness and attenuated stress responsivity are common characteristics of the peripartum period, it also represents a time of increased susceptibility to mood disorders. While a number of risk factors for these disorders are known, their underlying aetiology remains poorly understood, due at least in part to a lack of appropriate animal models. One translatable risk factor is stress exposure during the peripartum period. In the following review we first describe common peripartum adaptations and the impact postpartum mood disorders have on these. We then discuss the known consequences of peripartum stress exposure on such maternal adaptations that have been described in basic research.

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Section: Consequences Of Chronic Stress In Pregnancy On Physiology Nmentioning

confidence: 99%

From Stress to Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Disorders: How Chronic Peripartum Stress Can Impair Maternal Adaptations

Hillerer¹,

Neumann²,

Slattery³

2011

Neuroendocrinology

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“…There is also considerable evidence that these influences are important for the development of normal parent-infant relationships, although they have been suggested to be more relevant to the establishment of maternal than paternal care (72). Conversely, a recent longitudinal study of plasma OT levels among new parents with their first infant found there were increasing plasma OT levels over the first 6 months regardless of parental gender (13).…”

Section: Neuropeptide-dopaminergic Interactionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic Influences on Social Cognition

Skuse

Gallagher

2011

Pediatric Research

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Human social behavior develops under the influence of genetic, environmental, and cultural factors. Social cognition comprises our ability to understand and respond appropriately to other people's social approaches or responses. The concept embraces self-knowledge and theory of mind, or the ability to think about emotions and behavior from the perspective of another person. The neuropeptides oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (AVP) are now known to play an important role, affecting individual differences in parenting behavior, social recognition, and affiliative behaviors. The processes of social cognition are also supported by reward circuitry, underpinned by the dopaminergic neurotransmitter system. Reward processes build social relationships, in parenting and pair-bonding, and influence social interactions that require trust, or display altruism. The impact of emotional regulation upon social behavior, including mood and anxiety, is also mediated through the serotonergic system. Variation in activity of serotonergic networks in the brain influences emotional responsivity, including subjective feelings, physiological responses, emotional expressions, and the tendency to become engaged in action as a consequence of a feeling state. Genetic variation in the receptors associated with OT, AVP, dopamine, and serotonin has been intensively studied in humans and animal models. Recent findings are building an increasingly coherent picture of regulatory mechanisms. (Pediatr Res 69: 85R-91R, 2011) W e, as humans, usually possess the ability to rapidly process social information about the thoughts and actions of other people and to interact in complex ways with them. Social cognition comprises a set of skills that enable us to understand thoughts and intentions that may differ from our own experiences or predispositions. As we develop through early childhood, we are increasingly capable of taking another person's perspective, and we develop self-knowledge. We can accurately predict how another person might behave in the future, from our social perceptions and experiences. We become capable of learning what motivates other people in their social interactions, even if these do not directly involve us. All these skills map onto schemas that are encoded in an associative network in memory and is orchestrated to ensure normal, skilled social adaptation (1).The process by which we acquire social cognitive competence evolves with development and is modified in response to the environment. To begin with, infants cannot easily differentiate between themselves and other people, but they rapidly become aware that their actions have an impact on the physical and social world around them. In due course, they develop social understanding, language, and imitation. Eventually, most of us acquire the ability to "read the mind" of others. By this, we mean that it becomes possible for us to understand why other people behave the way they do and to respond appropriately to them in social situations. If we have not acquired this ability...

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“…The hormones mentioned above are also involved in maternal care-taking behaviors and motivation: Sex steroids positively affect maternal responsiveness during late pregnancy in marmosets and tamarins . Likewise, pre-partum estrogen levels are positively linked to subsequent maternal care-taking behavior in tamarins (Pryce et al, 1988), macaques (Bardi et al, 2003), and humans (Fleming et al, 1987; see also Maestripieri, 2001a, 2001b, and Saltzman and Maestripieri, 2011). Conflicting results were described for common marmosets (Pryce et al, 1995), black-tufted marmosets (Fite and French, 2000), gorillas (Bahr et al, 2001), and baboons (Bardi et al, 2004; see also Maestripieri, 2001a;Saltzman and Maestripieri, 2011).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Primate maternal behavior can also be influenced by stress-related hormones and neuropeptides (Saltzman and Maestripieri, 2011), whereas there is no indication for a positive link of prolactin and maternal care based on the limited available evidence in marmosets (Saltzman and Abbott, 2005). OT seems to be fundamentally involved in motivational priming during mother-infant bonding in mammals (Carter, 1998;Maestripieri, 2001b) and it is positively involved in maternal behavior in rats (Fahrbach et al, 1984;Pedersen et al, 1994) and sheep (Kendrick et al, 1987), but such effects have not been studied in primates yet.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Oxytocin is associated with infant-care behavior and motivation in cooperatively breeding marmoset monkeys

Finkenwirth

Martins

Deschner

et al. 2016

Hormones and Behavior

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The neurohormone oxytocin (OT) is positively involved in the regulation of parenting and social bonding in mammals, and may thus also be important for the mediation of alloparental care. In cooperatively breeding marmosets, infants are raised in teamwork by parents and adult and subadult non-reproductive helpers (usually older siblings). Despite high intrinsic motivation, which may be mediated by hormonal priming, not all individuals are always equally able to contribute to infant-care due to competition among care-takers. Among the various care-taking behaviors, proactive food sharing may reflect motivational levels best, since it can be performed ad libitum by several individuals even if competition among surplus care-takers constrains access to infants. Our aim was to study the link between urinary OT levels and care-taking behaviors in group-living marmosets, while taking affiliation with other adults and infant age into account. Over eight reproductive cycles, 26 individuals were monitored for urinary baseline OT, care-taking behaviors (baby-licking, -grooming, -carrying, and proactive food sharing), and adult-directed affiliation. Mean OT levels were generally highest in female breeders and OT increased significantly in all individuals after birth. During early infancy, high urinary OT levels were associated with increased infant-licking but low levels of adult-affiliation, and during late infancy, with increased proactive food sharing. Our results show that, in marmoset parents and alloparents, OT is positively involved in the regulation of care-taking, thereby reflecting the changing needs during infant development. This particularly included behaviors that are more likely to reflect intrinsic care motivation, suggesting a positive link between OT and motivational regulation of infant-care. This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. Email: christa.finkenwirth@uzh.ch A C C E P T E D M A N U S C R I P T ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT AbstractThe neurohormone oxytocin (OT) is positively involved in the regulation of parenting and social bonding in mammals, and may thus also be important for the mediation of alloparental care. In cooperatively breeding marmosets, infants are raised in teamwork by parents and adult and subadult non-reproductive helpers (usually older siblings). Despite high intrinsic motivation, which may be mediated by hormonal priming, not all individuals are always equally able to contribute to infant-care due to competition among care-takers. Among the various care-taking behaviors, proactive food sharing may reflect motivational levels best, since it can be performed ad libi...

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The neuroendocrinology of primate maternal behavior

Cited by 118 publications

References 151 publications

From Stress to Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Disorders: How Chronic Peripartum Stress Can Impair Maternal Adaptations

From Stress to Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Disorders: How Chronic Peripartum Stress Can Impair Maternal Adaptations

Genetic Influences on Social Cognition

Oxytocin is associated with infant-care behavior and motivation in cooperatively breeding marmoset monkeys

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