The neurobiology of infant maternal odor learning
Infant rats must learn to identify their mother’s diet-dependent odor. Once learned, maternal odor controls pups’ approach to the mother, their social behavior and nipple attachment. Here we present a review of the research from four different laboratories, which suggests that ne...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Associação Brasileira de Divulgação Científica
2010-10-01
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| Series: | Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-879X2010001000001 |
| _version_ | 1818928524353863680 |
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| author | C. Raineki A. Pickenhagen T.L. Roth D.M. Babstock J.H. McLean C.W. Harley A.B. Lucion R.M. Sullivan |
| author_facet | C. Raineki A. Pickenhagen T.L. Roth D.M. Babstock J.H. McLean C.W. Harley A.B. Lucion R.M. Sullivan |
| author_sort | C. Raineki |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Infant rats must learn to identify their mother’s diet-dependent odor. Once learned, maternal odor controls pups’ approach to the mother, their social behavior and nipple attachment. Here we present a review of the research from four different laboratories, which suggests that neural and behavioral responses to the natural maternal odor and neonatal learned odors are similar. Together, these data indicate that pups have a unique learning circuit relying on the olfactory bulb for neural plasticity and on the hyperfunctioning noradrenergic locus coeruleus flooding the olfactory bulb with norepinephrine to support the neural changes. Another important factor making this system unique is the inability of the amygdala to become incorporated into the infant learning circuit. Thus, infant rats appear to be primed in early life to learn odors that will evoke approach responses supporting attachment to the caregiver. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T03:30:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-446f372c22244a41a2dc7ea8db8a518c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0100-879X 1414-431X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T03:30:17Z |
| publishDate | 2010-10-01 |
| publisher | Associação Brasileira de Divulgação Científica |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-446f372c22244a41a2dc7ea8db8a518c2022-12-21T19:55:00ZengAssociação Brasileira de Divulgação CientíficaBrazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research0100-879X1414-431X2010-10-014310914919The neurobiology of infant maternal odor learningC. RainekiA. PickenhagenT.L. RothD.M. BabstockJ.H. McLeanC.W. HarleyA.B. LucionR.M. SullivanInfant rats must learn to identify their mother’s diet-dependent odor. Once learned, maternal odor controls pups’ approach to the mother, their social behavior and nipple attachment. Here we present a review of the research from four different laboratories, which suggests that neural and behavioral responses to the natural maternal odor and neonatal learned odors are similar. Together, these data indicate that pups have a unique learning circuit relying on the olfactory bulb for neural plasticity and on the hyperfunctioning noradrenergic locus coeruleus flooding the olfactory bulb with norepinephrine to support the neural changes. Another important factor making this system unique is the inability of the amygdala to become incorporated into the infant learning circuit. Thus, infant rats appear to be primed in early life to learn odors that will evoke approach responses supporting attachment to the caregiver.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-879X2010001000001Maternal odorOlfactory bulbNorepinephrineAttachmentLocus coeruleusAmygdala |
| spellingShingle | C. Raineki A. Pickenhagen T.L. Roth D.M. Babstock J.H. McLean C.W. Harley A.B. Lucion R.M. Sullivan The neurobiology of infant maternal odor learning Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research Maternal odor Olfactory bulb Norepinephrine Attachment Locus coeruleus Amygdala |
| title | The neurobiology of infant maternal odor learning |
| title_full | The neurobiology of infant maternal odor learning |
| title_fullStr | The neurobiology of infant maternal odor learning |
| title_full_unstemmed | The neurobiology of infant maternal odor learning |
| title_short | The neurobiology of infant maternal odor learning |
| title_sort | neurobiology of infant maternal odor learning |
| topic | Maternal odor Olfactory bulb Norepinephrine Attachment Locus coeruleus Amygdala |
| url | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-879X2010001000001 |
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