Maternal Bonding Starts in Brain
Researchers at the University of Otago have identified a specific brain pathway in mothers that is activated by the hormone prolactin to make interactions with newborns feel rewarding. This study provides biological insight into the profound emotional and behavioral changes experienced by new mothers.
Why it matters
Understanding the neurobiology of maternal bonding can help reduce stigma and improve support systems for parents struggling with postpartum mental health.
New research has found a hormone is responsible for making mothers' interactions with newborns feel rewarding rather than just necessary.
The University of Otago - Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka study, published in Science Advances, looked at how a mother's brain changes to help her devote her energy to provide for the needs of her infant.
Co-lead author Dr Michael Perkinson, of the Department of Physiology, says they found an essential pathway in the brain switches on when a mother is interacting with her offspring.
"In mice, it runs from a hormone sensing part of the brain into the brain's reward centre - which releases dopamine - and it's switched on by prolactin, a hormone essential for milk production that also surges after birth.
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