Neural, Hormonal and Epigenetic Adaptations for Fatherhood

该项目研究人类男性在转变为父亲的过程中可能经历的荷尔蒙和神经生物学变化，以及这些变化是否与依恋和照顾水平相关。这项研究结合了关于人类生活史和父母照料的进化论，以促进我们对人类男性在直接照顾中所扮演的角色的理解。通过确定与为人父有关的生物变化，该项目可以产生假设，并潜在地向公共卫生知识提供有关父母动机以及这种动机如何在一系列情况下变化的信息。该项目还促进了多名本科生研究人员的实验室培训和专业发展，包括那些来自STEM研究中代表性不足的群体的研究人员。对双亲非人类物种的研究表明，男性经历了一系列生物学变化，为成为父亲做好准备。这个项目调查人类男性是否经历了类似的变化，为他们扮演照顾者的角色做好了准备。研究人员调查了荷尔蒙水平是否以及何时会随着成为父亲的转变而变化，以及这些变化是否与婴儿时期的父亲参与和依恋有关。对准父亲(和非父亲对照组)的催产素、后叶加压素和睾酮激素水平进行多次测量，直到他们的婴儿达到1岁，父母报告父亲的参与和依恋。研究人员还检查了编码催产素、后叶加压素和雄激素受体的基因的甲基化是否以及何时随着当父亲的转变而发生变化，以及这些变化是否与父亲的参与和依恋有关。此外，参与者出生前和出生后的MRI和fMRI扫描被收集，以检查局部大脑灰质体积和神经对婴儿图片刺激的反应是否随着向父亲的转变而变化，以及这些变化是否与父亲的参与和依恋相关。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project examines hormonal and neurobiological changes that human males may experience during their transition to fatherhood, and whether these changes are correlated with levels of attachment and caregiving. The research engages with evolutionary theories about human life history and parental care to advance our understanding of the role of human males in direct caregiving. By identifying biological changes associated with fatherhood, this project can generate hypotheses and potentially inform public health knowledge about parental motivation and how this motivation varies across a range of circumstances. The project also facilitates laboratory training and professional development of multiple undergraduate researchers, including those from groups that are underrepresented in STEM research. Research in bi-parental non-human species suggests that males experience a number of biological changes that prepare them for fatherhood. This project investigates whether human males experience similar changes that prepare them for a caregiving role. The researchers examine if and when hormone levels change with the transition to fatherhood, and whether these changes are correlated with paternal involvement and attachment during infancy. Levels of the hormones oxytocin, vasopressin and testosterone are measured for expecting fathers (and non-father controls) at multiple intervals until their infants reach 1 year of age, and parents report on paternal involvement and attachment. The researchers also examine if and when methylation of genes that code for oxytocin, vasopressin and androgen receptors changes with the transition to fatherhood, and whether those changes are correlated with paternal involvement and attachment. In addition, MRI and fMRI scans are collected from participants pre- and post-natally to examine if regional cerebral gray matter volume and neural responses to infant picture stimuli change with the transition to fatherhood and if those changes are correlated with paternal involvement and attachment.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.