Topic: maternal motivation

Maternal motivation enables heightened responsivity of mothers towards offspring. While this motivational state is critical to infant survival, little is known about its regulation. Previous work in maternal rodents demonstrates that lesioning ventral tegmental area (VTA) neurons disrupts maternal motivated behaviors; and that these behaviors are restored by manipulating pup sensory salience (i.e., by increasing pup cries) and maternal states (Hansen 1994 Physiol Behav). Additionally, the neurohormone oxytocin is known to promote VTA-mediated maternal behaviors including infant approach and nu

Maternal care is a crucial aspect of mammalian behavior. Mothers detect signals from their pups, perform specific behaviors essential to their care (nest preparation, nursing, keeping pups warm), and remain motivated to care for them despite danger or fear. These behaviors are well documented in mothers but are also observed in nulliparous rodents, though with notable differences in expression and initiation compared to experienced mothers. This study concentrates on maternal motivation and explores the distinct neuronal mechanisms impacted in dams and nulliparous females. Initially, our findi