A potential role for thalamocingulate circuitry in human maternal behavior

The striatum is activated in response to face images of a mother's own child compared to unknown (or familiar but unrelated) children, as well as to infant cry stimuli.

“Several studies have shown that the striatum, a key projection of midbrain dopamine neurons which includes the putamen and caudate head, is activated in response to face images of a mother’s own child compared to unknown (or familiar but unrelated) children (22;23), as well as to infant cry stimuli (18).”

Other fMRI studies have only demonstrated activation of these areas in mothers of younger babies, during the first few months of life, suggesting these regions may be more important during the early postpartum period.

“However, other fMRI studies have only demonstrated activation of these areas in mothers of younger babies, during the first few months of life (18, 24), suggesting that these regions may be more important during the early postpartum period.”

The sound of a baby cry activates the hypothalamus and triggers oxytocin plasma elevations in human mothers.

“the sound of a baby cry activates the hypothalamus (Lorberbaum et al., 2002) and triggers oxytocin plasma elevations in human mothers (McNeilly et al., 1983)”

Infant stimuli trigger simultaneous responses in different brain areas of mothers.

“Infant stimuli trigger simultaneous responses in different brain areas of mothers (Febo et al., 2008; Lorberbaum et al., 2002; Sander and Scheich, 2005), but it remains to be explored if oxytocin acts simultaneously in different cortical areas to gate these responses; or, alternatively, if oxytocin signaling is restricted to specific regions.”

Lorberbaum et al. were the first group to study brain activity in mothers, in which they listened to other-baby-cries, highlighting the importance of a thalamocingulate circuit for an emotional response and regulation.

“Lorberbaum et al. (13) were the first group to study brain activity in mothers, in which they listened to other-baby-cries, highlighting the importance of a thalamocingulate circuit for an emotional response and regulation.”

Activation of the medial and lateral PFC and ACC is consistently observed among new mothers in response to an infant's cry, to videos of a distressed infant, and to one's own child greater than to familiar/unknown faces.

“Activation of the medial and lateral PFC and ACC are consistently observed among new mothers in response to an infant’s cry (Laurent and Ablow, 2012; Lorberbaum et al., 2002), to videos of a distressed infant (Noriuchi et al., 2008), and to one’s own child greater than to familiar/unknown faces (Leibenluft et al., 2004) were observed among new mothers.”

In Lorberbaum et al. (2002), 10 healthy breastfeeding first-time mothers with infants 1-2 months old showed activated regions including anterior and posterior cingulate, thalamus, midbrain, hypothalamus, septal regions, dorsal and ventral striatum, medial prefrontal cortex, right orbitofrontal/insula/temporal polar cortex region, and right lateral temporal cortex and fusiform gyrus in response to

“Activated regions included the anterior and posterior cingulate, thalamus, midbrain, hypothalamus, septal regions, dorsal and ventral striatum, medial prefrontal cortex, right orbitofrontal/insula/temporal polar cortex region, and right lateral temporal cortex and fusiform gyrus.”

When cry response was compared with inter-stimulus rest periods instead of control sound, the amygdala was active.

“Additionally, when cry response was compared with the inter-stimulus rest periods, instead of the control sound (which some mothers judged to be aversive), the amygdala was active.”