The oxytocin/vasopressin ancestor molecule has been regulating reproductive and social
behaviors for more than 500 million years. In all mammals, oxytocin is the hormone …

Parenting behavior comprises a variety of adult-infant and adult-adult interactions across
multiple timescales. The state transition from nonparent to parent requires an extensive …

Parental care is crucial for the survival of all mammalian species. Given the evolutionary
importance of parenting, this behavioral repertoire must be supported by circuitry that is …

Virgin adult female mice display nearly spontaneous maternal care towards foster pups after
a short period of sensitization. This indicates that maternal care is triggered by sensory …

Motherhood entails increased motivation for pups, which become strong reinforcers and
guide maternal behaviours. This depends on steroids and lactogens acting on the brain of …

The survival of newborn offspring in mammals is dependent on sustained maternal care.
Mammalian mothers are highly motivated to interact with and care for offspring, however, it is …

Regression is a key feature of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum
disorder, Fragile X syndrome, and Rett syndrome (RTT). RTT is caused by mutations in the X …

Imprinted genes are subject to germline epigenetic modification resulting in parental-specific
allelic silencing. Although genomic imprinting is thought to be important for maternal …

Both animal and human studies have provided conclusive evidence that oxytocin (OXT) acts
in the brain (eg, medial preoptic area, ventral tegmental area, nucleus accumbens) to …

This article is part of a Special Issue “Parental Care”. There is significant variability in the
behavioral responses displayed by naïve young and adult mice when first exposed to pups …