Neurobiology of Maternal Behavior in Nonhuman Mammals: Acceptance, Recognition, Motivation, and Rejection

Simple Summary Maternal behavior involves active and passive responses associated with the willingness to nurse and protect the young. In some species, its expression is very selective toward individuals that are recognized as their own and may be long-lasting, whereas in other species the expression is not as selective or may be short-lasting. Brain processes of acceptance, social recognition, inhibition of rejection/fear, and increase in care motivation mediate its expression. The neurocircuitry of maternal behavior is activated upon exposure to the right natural stimuli, such as those that occur during pregnancy, parturition, and lactation. However, even virgin females and males can respond with maternal behaviors if they develop sensitization to the offspring via cohabitation or cross-sensitization via mating. Herein, we discuss behavioral expression in different species, the natural triggering stimuli, and the putative neurocircuitries of acceptance, social recognition, motivation, and rejection during maternal behavior. Among the different species of mammals, the expression of maternal behavior varies considerably, although the end points of nurturance and protection are the same. Females may display passive or active responses of acceptance, recognition, rejection/fear, or motivation to care for the offspring. Each type of response may indicate different levels of neural activation. Different natural stimuli can trigger the expression of maternal and paternal behavior in both pregnant or virgin females and males, such as hormone priming during pregnancy, vagino-cervical stimulation during parturition, mating, exposure to pups, previous experience, or environmental enrichment. Herein, we discuss how the olfactory pathways and the interconnections of the medial preoptic area (mPOA) with structures such as nucleus accumbens, ventral tegmental area, amygdala, and bed nucleus of stria terminalis mediate maternal behavior. We also discuss how the triggering stimuli activate oxytocin, vasopressin, dopamine, galanin, and opioids in neurocircuitries that mediate acceptance, recognition, maternal motivation, and rejection/fear.

Automated summary

Maternal behavior involves various responses and processes in different species, mediating the willingness to nurse and protect the young. The expression and duration of maternal behavior differ among species. Neural activation in acceptance, social recognition, inhibition of rejection/fear, and increase in care motivation play a role in mediating maternal behavior. Natural stimuli such as hormones, mating, and previous experience can trigger maternal and paternal behavior. Olfactory pathways and the interconnections of brain structures mediate maternal behavior. Activation of hormones and neurotransmitters also play a role in maternal behavior.