2025
Oxytocin improves maternal licking behavior deficits in autism-associated Shank3 mutant dogs
Lyu W, Li Y, Yao A, Tan Q, Zhang R, Zhao J, Guo K, Jiang Y, Tian R, Zhang Y. Oxytocin improves maternal licking behavior deficits in autism-associated Shank3 mutant dogs. Translational Psychiatry 2025, 15: 76. PMID: 40050270, PMCID: PMC11885833, DOI: 10.1038/s41398-025-03296-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAutism spectrum disorderMutant damsWild-typeMaternal behaviorASD risk genesLicking behaviorAbundant scaffolding proteinImpaired social interactionEffects of oxytocinCRISPR/Cas9 methodologyRisk genesMutant dogsNursing frequencyOXT treatmentBehavioral deficitsRepetitive behaviorsPotential therapeutic strategySpectrum disorderBirthing parents’ neural response to infant cry: moderating effects of oxytocin and perceived childhood care
Grande L, Xie Y, Zagoory-Sharon O, Watamura S, Yeh T, Feldman R, Kim P. Birthing parents’ neural response to infant cry: moderating effects of oxytocin and perceived childhood care. Social Cognitive And Affective Neuroscience 2025, 20: nsaf010. PMID: 39849833, PMCID: PMC11804881, DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsaf010.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMaternity careParental Bonding InstrumentParenting behaviorsOxytocin levelsInfant cryingNeural responses to infant cryNeural responses to infant stimuliResponse to infant cryingResponses to infant stimuliEarly postpartum periodObservations of parental behaviorEarly caregiving experiencesSensitive parenting behaviorsCaregiving experienceHigher oxytocin levelsBirth parentsParent-infant playEffects of oxytocinControlled cryingMonths postpartumPostpartum periodCareCuneus activationInfant stimuliBonding Instrument
2024
Sensitive infant care tunes a frontotemporal interbrain network in adolescence
Schwartz L, Hayut O, Levy J, Gordon I, Feldman R. Sensitive infant care tunes a frontotemporal interbrain network in adolescence. Scientific Reports 2024, 14: 22602. PMID: 39349700, PMCID: PMC11442694, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-73630-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsFrontotemporal networkMaternal sensitivityInterbrain synchronyNaturalistic interactionsSocial communicationMother-child relationshipSocial-emotional outcomesPsychological Well-BeingEarly maternal behaviorMaternal intrusivenessPositive valenceInterbrain connectivityMaternal behaviorEarly adolescenceChild's brainHyperscanning studiesPost hoc comparisonsNeural synchronySocial orientationMaternal orientationLongitudinal studyAdolescentsWell-beingPost-hocChildrenNeurons for infant social behaviors in the mouse zona incerta
Li Y, Liu Z, Santana G, Capaz A, Doumazane E, Gao X, Renier N, Dietrich M. Neurons for infant social behaviors in the mouse zona incerta. Science 2024, 385: 409-416. PMID: 39052814, DOI: 10.1126/science.adk7411.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsEmotionsFemaleLearningMaleMaternal BehaviorMiceNeuronsSocial BehaviorSocial InteractionSomatostatinZona IncertaConceptsInfant social behaviorSocial behaviorZona incertaSomatostatin-expressing neuronsNeural basisInfant behaviorBehavioral distressEmotional developmentMaternal presenceNeural activity manipulationFacilitation of learningBrain centersSocial interactionPopulations of neuronsInfant mouse brainPreweaning miceMouse brainNeuronsInfantsMiceActive manipulationBehaviorMothersDistressIncertaNeural correlates of altered emotional responsivity to infant stimuli in mothers who use substances
McCurdy L, Yip S, Worhunsky P, Zhai Z, Kim S, Strathearn L, Potenza M, Mayes L, Rutherford H. Neural correlates of altered emotional responsivity to infant stimuli in mothers who use substances. Journal Of Psychiatric Research 2024, 171: 126-133. PMID: 38277872, PMCID: PMC10922955, DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.01.024.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsBrainChildEmotionsFemaleHumansInfantMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaternal BehaviorMother-Child RelationsMothersConceptsResponses to infant stimuliInfant stimuliMaternal behaviorAffective processesBrain regionsPsychological processesEmotional responsesFunctional magnetic resonance imagingPotential neural targetsInfant emotional expressionsMaternal emotional responsivenessSubstance-use statusAssociated with difficultiesSocial-emotional developmentInfant social-emotional developmentMaternal substance useInfant facesCognitive processesImprove child outcomesEmotional expressionEmotional intensityNeural targetsSubstance useGroups of mothersChild outcomes
2022
Associations between Family Functioning and Maternal Behavior on Default Mode Network Connectivity in School-Age Children
Rebello K, Moura L, Bueno A, Picon F, Pan P, Gadelha A, Miguel E, Bressan R, Rohde L, Sato J. Associations between Family Functioning and Maternal Behavior on Default Mode Network Connectivity in School-Age Children. International Journal Of Environmental Research And Public Health 2022, 19: 6055. PMID: 35627592, PMCID: PMC9141331, DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19106055.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdolescentBrain MappingDefault Mode NetworkFemaleGyrus CinguliHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaternal BehaviorConceptsDefault mode networkFamily Environment ScaleSchool-aged childrenPosterior cingulate cortexMedial prefrontal cortexFamily environmentFunctional connectivityDMN functional connectivityCohesive familiesMaternal behaviorDefault mode network connectivityFunctional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) dataEarly child experiencesPositive maternal behaviorParent-child relationshipMode network connectivityBrain functional connectivityChild affectFamily functioningMaternal overprotectionEarly adolescenceFamily cohesivenessMode networkPrefrontal cortexFamily context
2021
Deficiency of the paternally inherited gene Magel2 alters the development of separation‐induced vocalization and maternal behavior in mice
Ortiz G, Santana GM, Dietrich MO. Deficiency of the paternally inherited gene Magel2 alters the development of separation‐induced vocalization and maternal behavior in mice. Genes Brain & Behavior 2021, 21: e12776. PMID: 34812568, PMCID: PMC9744533, DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12776.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsAntigens, NeoplasmFemaleMaleMaternal BehaviorMiceMice, Inbred C57BLPaternal InheritanceProteinsVocalization, AnimalConceptsOrigin-specific mannerGenomic imprintingMouse developmentPaternal genesMammalian offspringDeficient offspringLoss of Magel2Specific mannerGene Magel2GenesOffspring resultsMAGEL2Combined expressionOffspringAltered behaviorSeparation-induced vocalizationsVocal behaviorExpressionMammalsPostnatal developmentGrowthImprintingPup growthMaternal perinatal anxiety and neural responding to infant affective signals: Insights, challenges, and a road map for neuroimaging research
Yatziv T, Vancor EA, Bunderson M, Rutherford HJV. Maternal perinatal anxiety and neural responding to infant affective signals: Insights, challenges, and a road map for neuroimaging research. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 2021, 131: 387-399. PMID: 34563563, PMCID: PMC8642296, DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.09.043.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnxietyChildDepressionFemaleHumansInfantMaternal BehaviorMother-Child RelationsMothersNeuroimagingPostpartum PeriodPregnancyConceptsInfant cuesSensitive responsivenessMothers' sensitive responsivenessFunctional neuroimaging studiesMaternal perinatal anxietyPerinatal maternal anxietyPerinatal anxietyCue valenceNeural correlatesAffective signalsSensitive caregivingNeuroimaging studiesCore facetsAnxiety symptomsLongitudinal investigationNeural circuitryMixed findingsDepression symptomsMaternal anxietyAnxietyCuesFuture researchTemporal dynamicsCaregivingCurrent researchPrenatal attachment: using measurement invariance to test the validity of comparisons across eight culturally diverse countries
Foley S, Hughes C, Murray A, Baban A, Fernando A, Madrid B, Osafo J, Sikander S, Abbasi F, Walker S, Luong-Thanh B, Vo T, Tomlinson M, Fearon P, Ward C, Valdebenito S, Eisner M. Prenatal attachment: using measurement invariance to test the validity of comparisons across eight culturally diverse countries. Archives Of Women's Mental Health 2021, 24: 619-625. PMID: 33559754, PMCID: PMC8266779, DOI: 10.1007/s00737-021-01105-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMaternal-fetal attachmentMiddle-income countriesHigh-income countriesExpectant mothersProspective birth cohort studyBirth cohort studyFirst-time mothersPrenatal Attachment InventoryCohort studyThird trimesterPregnant womenMaternal healthFirst infantMaternal behaviorGroup comparisonsMean levelsMothersInfantsSingle latent factorFuture studiesPlace childrenChildrenChild outcomesSimilar informationPAI
2020
Does 5-HTTLPR moderate the effect of the quality of environmental context on maternal sensitivity? Testing the differential susceptibility hypothesis.
Baião R, Fearon P, Belsky J, Teixeira P, Soares I, Mesquita A. Does 5-HTTLPR moderate the effect of the quality of environmental context on maternal sensitivity? Testing the differential susceptibility hypothesis. Psychiatric Genetics 2020, 30: 49-56. PMID: 31842059, DOI: 10.1097/ypg.0000000000000247.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2019
Perinatal dietary omega-3 fatty acid deficiency reduces maternal nurturing behavior in rats: dissociation from elevated pro-inflammatory signaling
Asch R, Schurdak J, McNamara R. Perinatal dietary omega-3 fatty acid deficiency reduces maternal nurturing behavior in rats: dissociation from elevated pro-inflammatory signaling. Nutritional Neuroscience 2019, 24: 735-746. PMID: 31599208, PMCID: PMC7145725, DOI: 10.1080/1028415x.2019.1674507.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPro-inflammatory signalingFatty acid deficiencyLicking/groomingAcid deficiencyCON damsDietary omega-3 fatty acid deficiencyOmega-3 fatty acid deficiencyLower RBCMaternal nurturing behaviorAlpha-linolenic acidNurturing behaviorInflammatory measuresDHA levelsPassive nursingBlinded ratersPotential associationControl dietAcid levelsRatsNursingFatty acid compositionPupsDeficiencyDietSignalingDissecting maternal care: Patterns of maternal parenting in a prospective cohort study
Unternaehrer E, Cost KT, Bouvette‐Turcot A, Gaudreau H, Massicotte R, Dhir SK, Dass S, O'Donnell KJ, Gordon‐Green C, Atkinson L, Levitan RD, Wazana A, Steiner M, Lydon JE, Clark R, Fleming AS, Meaney MJ, Team T. Dissecting maternal care: Patterns of maternal parenting in a prospective cohort study. Journal Of Neuroendocrinology 2019, 31: e12784. PMID: 31442354, DOI: 10.1111/jne.12784.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdolescentAdultFemaleHumansMaternal BehaviorMother-Child RelationsMothersParentingProspective StudiesSelf ReportYoung AdultConceptsMaternal parentingParental brainChild outcomesMental healthMaternal parenting styleSelf-report measuresChild-reported symptomsAinsworth Sensitivity ScaleFactor analysisSelf-report questionnairesParenting variablesDifferent latent constructsSupportive parentingRelationship satisfactionAffectionate parentingMotivational componentParenting stylesExploratory factor analysisSchool readinessMultidimensional constructBehavioral problemsParentingBehavioral componentsCooperation taskMother-child bondingTDAG51 is a crucial regulator of maternal care and depressive-like behavior after parturition
Yun H, Park E, Choi S, Shin B, Yu J, Yu J, Amarasekara D, Kim S, Lee N, Choi J, Choi Y, Rho J. TDAG51 is a crucial regulator of maternal care and depressive-like behavior after parturition. PLOS Genetics 2019, 15: e1008214. PMID: 31251738, PMCID: PMC6599150, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008214.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDepressive-like behaviorPostpartum depressionDevelopment of postpartum depressionImpaired maternal behaviorRegulation of maternal careMonoamine neurotransmitter levelsCombination of physical changesNest-building testInfluence of genetic risk factorsTDAG51 deficiencyMaternity careGenetic risk factorsPup retrievalMental disordersPsychiatric illnessNeurotransmitter levelsMaternal behaviorPostpartumRisk factorsDepressionBuilding testsT-cell death-associated geneDeath-associated genesNursesCareFunctional Ontogeny of Hypothalamic Agrp Neurons in Neonatal Mouse Behaviors
Zimmer MR, Fonseca AHO, Iyilikci O, Pra RD, Dietrich MO. Functional Ontogeny of Hypothalamic Agrp Neurons in Neonatal Mouse Behaviors. Cell 2019, 178: 44-59.e7. PMID: 31104844, PMCID: PMC6688755, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2019.04.026.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHypothalamic AgRP neuronsAgRP neuronsAdult micePostnatal day 10 miceVivo fiber photometryFunctional ontogenyIsolation-induced ultrasonic vocalizationsNon-nutritive sucklingUltrasonic vocalizationsMilk ingestionFiber photometryMilk deprivationFood ingestionNeuronsMiceMouse behaviorIngestionNeonatesGABALittermatesOveractivationAssociations Between Maternal Caregiving and Child Indicators of Toxic Stress Among Multiethnic, Urban Families
Condon EM, Holland ML, Slade A, Redeker NS, Mayes LC, Sadler LS. Associations Between Maternal Caregiving and Child Indicators of Toxic Stress Among Multiethnic, Urban Families. Journal Of Pediatric Health Care 2019, 33: 425-436. PMID: 30683581, PMCID: PMC6589109, DOI: 10.1016/j.pedhc.2018.12.002.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMaternal positive responses to a distressed infant simulator predict subsequent negative affect in infants
McKay ER, Rosinski L, Mayes LC, Rutherford HJV, Bridgett DJ. Maternal positive responses to a distressed infant simulator predict subsequent negative affect in infants. Infant Behavior And Development 2019, 56: 101299. PMID: 30670294, DOI: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2018.12.004.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchDynamic DNA methylation changes in the maternal oxytocin gene locus (OXT) during pregnancy predict postpartum maternal intrusiveness
Toepfer P, O'Donnell KJ, Entringer S, Garg E, Heim CM, Lin DTS, MacIsaac JL, Kobor MS, Meaney MJ, Provençal N, Binder EB, Wadhwa PD, Buss C. Dynamic DNA methylation changes in the maternal oxytocin gene locus (OXT) during pregnancy predict postpartum maternal intrusiveness. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2019, 103: 156-162. PMID: 30690225, PMCID: PMC6554513, DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.01.013.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLate pregnancyMaternal behaviorMonths postpartumEarly postnatal developmentNovel potential biomarkersRace/ethnicityPregnancy inducesPeripheral bloodPregnancyMother-child dyadsPostnatal maternal behaviourPostnatal developmentPotential biomarkersSteroid hormonesDNA methylationSocioeconomic statusWhole bloodPromoter DNA methylationMother-child interactionPostpartumBloodDNA methylation changesOxytocinDNAm trajectoriesMaternal intrusiveness
2018
Child’s oxytocin response to mother-child interaction: The contribution of child genetics and maternal behavior
Baião R, Fearon P, Belsky J, Baptista J, Carneiro A, Pinto R, Nogueira M, Oliveira C, Soares I, Mesquita A. Child’s oxytocin response to mother-child interaction: The contribution of child genetics and maternal behavior. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2018, 102: 79-83. PMID: 30529717, DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.11.022.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOxytocin responseMaternal sensitive responsivenessOT levelsMaternal behaviorMother-child interactionMother-child interaction taskMothers' sensitive responsivenessGG genotypeSalivary OT levelsMaternal interactive behaviorSensitive responsivenessSuch genotypic differencesOxytocinergic systemPortuguese preschoolersOXTR genotypeOT concentrationsResponsivenessEnvironmental factorsPreliminary supportChild genotypeChild geneticsAssessing preschoolers interactive behaviour: A validation study of the “Coding System for Mother–Child Interaction”
Baiao R, Baptista J, Carneiro A, Pinto R, Toscano C, Fearon P, Soares I, Mesquita A. Assessing preschoolers interactive behaviour: A validation study of the “Coding System for Mother–Child Interaction”. Child Care Health And Development 2018, 44: 644-650. PMID: 29766543, DOI: 10.1111/cch.12572.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMother-child interactionChildren's interactive behaviorsInteractive behaviorInteractive skillsCoding systemMeasures of temperamentMothers' interactive behaviorsFuture researchReliable measurePreschool-age childrenChildren's codingPortuguese preschoolersChild temperamentPreschool yearsFamily variablesStructured tasksDevelopmental achievementsBehavior problemsChildren's cooperationBehavioral problemsDivergent validityClinical populationsMaternal reportsConvergent validityTemperament
2017
Maternal Acceptance Moderates Fear Ratings and Avoidance Behavior in Children
Shimshoni Y, Silverman WK, Byrne SP, Lebowitz ER. Maternal Acceptance Moderates Fear Ratings and Avoidance Behavior in Children. Child Psychiatry & Human Development 2017, 49: 460-467. PMID: 29188403, PMCID: PMC5871552, DOI: 10.1007/s10578-017-0765-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsChildren’s avoidance behaviorMaternal acceptanceAvoidance behaviorBehavioral avoidanceAnxiety disordersFear of spidersSelf-rated fearLevel of avoidanceSpider stimuliAnxious childrenChild avoidanceChildren's fearsChildren's feelingsFearAvoidanceChildrenHallmark featureMothersAcceptanceDisordersAdolescentsBehaviorStimuliFeelingsModerates
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