Journal
DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOBIOLOGY
Volume 47, Issue 3, Pages 230-242Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1002/dev.20093
Keywords
mother-infant interactions; olfactory bulb; norepinephrine; attachment; imprinting; locus coeruleus; amygdala; learning; classical conditioning; abuse; corticosterone; sensitive period; stress
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Funding
- NICHD NIH HHS [HD33402, R01 HD033402] Funding Source: Medline
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A strong attachment to the caregiver is critical for survival in altricial species, including humans. While some behavioral aspects of attachment have been characterized, its neurobiology has only recently received attention. Using a mammalian imprinting model, we are assessing the neural circuitry that enables infant rats to attach quickly to a caregiver thus enhancing survival in the nest. Specifically, the hyper-junctioning noradrenergic locus coeruleus (LC) enables pups to learn rapid, robust preference for the caregiver Conversely, a hypo-functional amygdala appears to prevent the infant from learning aversions to the caregiver. Adult LC and amygdala functional emergence correlates with sensitive period termination. This study suggests the neonatal brain is not all immature version of the adult brain but is uniquely designed to optimize attachment to the caregiver. Although human attachment may not rely on identical circuitry, the work reviewed here suggests a new conceptual framework, in which to explore human attachments, particularly attachments to abusive caregivers. (C) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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