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Social neuroscience: Nosh or nurture?
1Institute of Translational Neuroscience, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA.
Current Biology : CB
|October 7, 2025
Summary
Lactating mothers increase food seeking to meet energy needs. A newly discovered neural circuit connects eating behaviors with maternal care for offspring.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Reproductive Biology
- Behavioral Biology
Background:
- Lactation imposes significant energetic demands on mothers, necessitating increased food intake.
- Maternal behaviors, including pup care, are crucial for offspring survival but require substantial energy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the neural mechanisms underlying the coordination of increased appetite and maternal care during lactation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized neuroimaging and behavioral analysis in a rodent model.
- Investigated neural pathways connecting appetite regulation centers with brain regions controlling maternal behaviors.
Main Results:
- A specific neural circuit was identified that links olfactory cues from pups to appetite-stimulating brain areas.
- Activation of this circuit increased both food seeking and pup grooming behaviors.
Conclusions:
- This neural circuit provides a biological basis for how mothers balance nutritional needs with the demands of caring for their young.
- Understanding this interface is key to comprehending maternal adaptations during lactation.
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