How Baby Cries Connect to Maternal Hormones – Unveiling the Oxytocin Circuit

ByThe Short Paper

Neural circuitry for maternal oxytocin release induced by infant cries

Oxytocin is a hormone important for maternal and childcare functions like childbirth and nursing. New research in mice reveals a neural circuit that connects the sounds of infant vocalizations to oxytocin-producing neurons in the brain. These neurons respond to baby cries and help regulate maternal behavior. The study uncovers how sensory cues from offspring activate oxytocin networks in mothers.

Valtcheva, S., Issa, H.A., Bair-Marshall, C.J. et al. Neural circuitry for maternal oxytocin release induced by infant cries. Nature (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06540-4

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06540-4#citeas

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