nvestigation of the neuroendocrinological basis involved in the human paternal and maternal behaviors

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The purpose of the present study is to determine the biological basis for paternal and maternal behavior and to clarify the characteristics of their specific brain and hormone functions. We examined whether the brain activation patterns in response to infant facial stimuli are different between parents and non-parents and between the groups divided by the oxytocin receptor gene polymorphisms in parents. First, we found that father seemed to show the brain activation different from non-fathers. Second, from our data for the time-dependent effect from pregnancy to motherhood on the maternal brain activities, we have shown the possibility that both the post partum hormones and experiences to take care of their infant contribute to the change of their brain function from nulliparous females to mothers. Finally, we have shown that the oxytocin receptor genetic polymorphisms would modulate the maternal affections.