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Cited by 106Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorInfant Health and DevelopmentStress Responses and Cortisol

Neuroendocrinology of Parental Response to Baby‐Cry

Open access
Swain, J. E., Kim, P., Ho, S. S.·2011·Journal of Neuroendocrinology
DOI 10.1111/j.1365-2826.2011.02212.xPMC PMC4319977
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Abstract

This overview attempts to synthesise current understandings of the neuroendocrine basis of parenting. The parent–infant bond is central to the human condition, contributes to risks for mood and anxiety disorders, and provides the potential for resiliency and protection against the development of psychopathology. Animal models of parenting provide compelling evidence that biological mechanisms may be studied in humans. This has led to brain imaging and endocrine system studies of human parents using baby stimuli and concerted psychological and behavioural measures. Certain brain circuits and related hormonal systems, including subcortical regions for motivation (striatum, amygdala, hypothalamus and hippocampus) and cortical regions for social cognition (anterior cingulate, insula, medial frontal and orbitofrontal cortices), appear to be involved. These brain circuits work with a range of endocrine systems to manage stress and motivate appropriate parental caring behaviour with a flexibility appropriate to the environment. Work in this field promises to link evolving models of parental brain performance with resilience, risk and treatment toward mother–infant mental health.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This review synthesizes animal and human evidence on the neuroendocrine basis of parental response to baby-cry, proposing an integrated model involving dopamine, oxytocin, cortisol, and endogenous opioids. It argues that parental brain circuits and endocrine systems work together to manage stress and motivate flexible caregiving, while noting major gaps for dopamine and endogenous opioids in humans.

Key findings

  • The paper proposes a homeostatic neuroendocrine model of parenting in which baby-cry initially engages dopamine and oxytocin systems, cortisol regulates the closely following stress response, and endogenous opioids support subsequent parenting and reward.
  • Human neuroimaging and animal work implicate subcortical motivation regions (striatum, amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus) and cortical social cognition regions (anterior cingulate, insula, medial frontal, orbitofrontal cortices) in parental response to infant stimuli.
  • Oxytocin and cortisol roles in human maternal response to baby-cry are described as relatively well established, whereas the paper states there are significant gaps in the human literature for dopamine and endogenous opioids.
  • Examples cited include: mothers who gave birth vaginally versus by caesarean were more sensitive to own- versus other-baby-cry in emotion regulation and limbic regions at 2–4 weeks postpartum; breastfeeding mothers were more sensitive to their own infant’s cry than formula-feeding mothers at 2–4 weeks postpartum; brain activity in superior frontal gyrus and amygdala predicted maternal sensitivity at 3–4 months postpartum; and at 6 months postpartum maternal cortisol was inversely associated with sensitive maternal behaviours and oxytocin.
  • In clinically depressed mothers, the first study using own-baby-cry reportedly found brain response essentially eliminated by depression in a distributed network of paralimbic and prefrontal regions, with inverse correlation between response and depression severity.

Methods

  • Narrative overview/review synthesizing current understandings of the neuroendocrine basis of parenting, drawing on human and animal brain research using infant stimuli.
  • Discusses functional neuroimaging methods including MRI, voxel-based morphometry, fMRI BOLD, and PET, alongside endocrine measures and psychological/behavioural measures.
  • Uses the example of maternal brain and endocrine responses to the hunger cry of an infant to examine modulatory roles of dopamine, oxytocin, cortisol, and endogenous opioids, and proposes a simplified integrated homeostatic model.

Limitations

  • The paper states that BOLD fMRI signals are indirect measures of neural activity, imaging data show association rather than causality, scanner constraints require simple tasks and stimuli, and parenting brain function is subject to uncontrolled factors such as early-life experiences and postpartum timing and environment.
  • The paper states significant gaps in the human neuroendocrine parenting literature, with roles for dopamine and endogenous opioids needing clarification, and calls for more ethologically valid stimuli and combined brain imaging plus endocrine measurement or manipulation.
  • Evident from the text: as a narrative overview, no systematic search strategy or formal quality appraisal is reported, and several model components are presented as suggestions or speculation, including the proposed sequence in Fig. 1 and the speculation that endogenous opioid levels may remain elevated after baby-cry cessation and breastfeeding.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1111/j.1365-2826.2011.02212.x

Cites

72 of 72 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

0 of 80 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Interpretationnone given

    Certain brain circuits and related hormonal systems, including subcortical regions for motivation (striatum, amygdala, hypothalamus and hippocampus) and cortical regions for social cognition (anterior cingulate, insula, medial frontal and orbitofrontal cortices), appear to be involved in parenting.

    “Certain brain circuits and related hormonal systems, including subcortical regions for motivation (striatum, amygdala, hypothalamus and hippocampus) and cortical regions for social cognition (anterior cingulate, insula, medial frontal and orbitofrontal cortices), appear to be involved.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Interpretationnone given

    These brain circuits work with a range of endocrine systems to manage stress and motivate appropriate parental caring behaviour with a flexibility appropriate to the environment.

    “These brain circuits work with a range of endocrine systems to manage stress and motivate appropriate parental caring behaviour with a flexibility appropriate to the environment.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Premisecitation

    Animal studies using lesions, electrophysiology and neuroendocrine contributions to behaviours have documented maternal brain circuits that include the hypothalamus, amygdala, striatum, cingulate and prefrontal cortex.

    “Animal studies using, for example, lesions, electrophysiology and neuroendocrine contributions to behaviours have documented maternal brain circuits that include the hypothalamus, amygdala, striatum, cingulate and prefrontal cortex (12).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [12] Newman JD Neural circuits underlying crying and cry responding in mammals Behav Brain Res 2007 182 155 165 17363076 PMC1995563 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Premisecitation

    Researchers have identified a series of hypothalamic-midbrain-limbic-paralimbic-cortical brain circuits that are selectively activated during times when the maternal brain is 'switched-on' by baby-cries.

    “Subsequently, researchers have identified a series of hypothalamic-midbrain-limbic-paralimbic-cortical brain circuits that are selectively activated during times when the maternal brain is ‘switched-on’ by baby-cries (4).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [4] Swain JE The human parental brain: in vivo neuroimaging Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2011 35 1242 1254 21036196 PMC4329016 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Premisecitation

    In several human fMRI studies, responses to own- versus other-baby stimuli of first-time mothers during the early postpartum period show increased brain activity in several regions, including the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), midbrain, striatum, cingulate, amygdala and insula.

    “In several human fMRI studies, responses to own- versus other-baby stimuli of first-time mothers during this early postpartum period show increased brain activity in several regions, including the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), midbrain, striatum, cingulate, amygdala and insula (4,5,8,9,19,20).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 6 sources checked
    • cites [4] Swain JE The human parental brain: in vivo neuroimaging Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2011 35 1242 1254 21036196 PMC4329016 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [5] Barrett J Fleming AS Annual research review: all mothers are not created equal: neural and psychobiological perspectives on mothering and the importance of individual differences J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2011 52 368 397 20925656 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [8] Swain JE Leckman JF Mayes LC Feldman R Hoyt E Kang H Kim P David D Nguyen S Constable RT Schultz RT Functional brain activations of parents listening to their own baby-cry change over the early postpartum Dev Psychobiol 2011 In Press

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [9] Swain JE Leckman JF Mayes LC Feldman R Constable RT Schultz RT The neural circuitry of parent-infant attachment in the early postpartum 2003 American College of Neuropsychopharmacology Puerto Rico

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [19] Noriuchi M Kikuchi Y Senoo A The functional neuroanatomy of maternal love: mother’s response to infant’s attachment behaviors Biol Psychiatry 2008 63 415 423 17686467 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [20] Strathearn L Li J Fonagy P Montague PR What’s in a smile? Maternal brain responses to infant facial cues Pediatrics 2008 122 40 51 18595985 PMC2597649 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 6
  • May combine two claims. 21

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Increased levels of stress in parents result from physiological, emotional and economical demands from the baby.

    “Despite increased levels of stress as a result of physiological, emotional and economical demands from the baby (1)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [1] Barclay L Everitt L Rogan F Schmied V Wyllie A Becoming a mother – an analysis of women’s experience of early motherhood J Adv Nurs 1997 25 719 728 9104667 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Parents typically find themselves highly motivated to take care of their infants' needs and find interactions with infants rewarding.

    “parents typically find themselves highly motivated to take care of their infants’ needs and also find the interactions with infants rewarding (2,3).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [2] Mercer RT The process of maternal role attainment over the first year Nurs Res 1985 34 198 204 3847870 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [3] Goodman JH Becoming an involved father of an infant J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs 2002 34 190 200 15781596 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    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.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [13] Lorberbaum JP Newman JD Horwitz AR Dubno JR Lydiard RB Hamner MB Bohning DE George MS A potential role for thalamocingulate circuitry in human maternal behavior Biol Psychiatry 2002 51 431 445 11922877 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    During the early postpartum period, increased levels of anxiety and worries in new parents, typically about their infant's safety and health, may include thoughts of reciprocity, unity and even idealised perfection of the infant, which may elevate anxiety levels.

    “During the early postpartum period, increased levels of anxiety and worries in new parents, typically about their infant’s safety and health, may include thoughts of reciprocity, unity and even idealised perfection of the infant, which may elevate anxiety levels (14–16).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [14] Feldman R Weller A Leckman JF Kuint J Eidelman AI The nature of the mother’s tie to her infant: maternal bonding under conditions of proximity, separation, and potential loss J Child Psychol Psychiatry 1999 40 929 939 10509887 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [15] Leckman JF Mayes LC Preoccupations and behaviors associated with romantic and parental love Perspectives on the origin of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am 1999 8 635 665 10442234 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [16] Leckman JF Mayes LC Feldman R Evans DW King RA Cohen DJ Early parental preoccupations and behaviors and their possible relationship to the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder Acta Psychiatr Scand Suppl 1999 396 1 26 10478283 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Some of these brain regions also serve to focus attention and promote DA-dependent attention and decision-making.

    “In addition to mediating DA-related anxiety and habitual behaviour and learning (21,22), some of these brain regions also serve to focus attention and promote DA-dependent attention and decision-making (23).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [21] Ashby FG Turner BO Horvitz JC Cortical and basal ganglia contributions to habit learning and automaticity Trends Cogn Sci 2010 14 208 215 20207189 PMC2862890 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [22] Nikolaus S Antke C Beu M Muller HW Cortical GABA, striatal dopamine and midbrain serotonin as the key players in compulsive and anxiety disorders – results from in vivo imaging studies Rev Neurosci 2010 21 119 139 20614802 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [23] Schultz W Dopamine signals for reward value and risk: basic and recent data Behav Brain Funct 2010 6 24 20416052 PMC2876988 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    In humans, OT plays key roles in social bonding in general, as well as specific aspects of maternal brain function, including vaginal delivery, breastfeeding, and parental sensitivity.

    “In humans, OT plays key roles in social bonding in general (29), as well as specific aspects of maternal brain function (30), including: (i) vaginal delivery (31); (ii) breastfeeding (32); and (iii) parental sensitivity (33–36).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 8 sources checked
    • cites [29] Ross HE Young LJ Oxytocin and the neural mechanisms regulating social cognition and affiliative behavior Front Neuroendocrinol 2009 30 534 547 19481567 PMC2748133 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [30] Leng G Meddle SL Douglas AJ Oxytocin and the maternal brain Curr Opin Pharmacol 2008 8 731 734 18656552 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [31] Kendrick KM Oxytocin, motherhood and bonding Exp Physiol 2000 85 111S 124S 10795913 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [32] Sala NL Althabe O The milk ejecting effect induced by oxytocin during human lactation Acta Physiol Lat Am 1968 18 88 95 5690903

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [33] Feldman R Weller A Zagoory-Sharon O Levine A Evidence for a neuroendocrinological foundation of human affiliation: plasma oxytocin levels across pregnancy and the postpartum period predict mother-infant bonding Psychol Sci 2007 18 965 970 17958710 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [34] Feldman R Gordon I Zagoory-Sharon O The cross-generation transmission of oxytocin in humans Horm Behav 2010 58 669 676 20558167 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [35] Gordon I Zagoory-Sharon O Leckman JF Feldman R Oxytocin, cortisol, and triadic family interactions Physiol Behav 2010 101 679 684 20723553 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [36] Naber F van Ijzendoorn MH Deschamps P van Engeland H Bakermans-Kranenburg MJ Intranasal oxytocin increases fathers’ observed responsiveness during play with their children: a double-blind within-subject experiment Psychoneuroendocrinology 2010 35 1583 1586 20457491 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Exogenous OT administration decreases fear behaviours of lactating rats, at the same time as increasing brain activity in emotion and cognition regulation regions, such as the anterior cingulate, and decreasing brain activity in autonomic, visceromotor and skeletomotor areas.

    “Furthermore, exogenous OT administration decreases fear behaviours of lactating rats, at the same time as increasing brain activity in emotion and cognition regulation regions, such as the anterior cingulate, and decreasing brain activity in autonomic, visceromotor and skeletomotor areas enhances neural processing in (and also modulates) emotion regulation brain circuits (28).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [28] Febo M Shields J Ferris CF King JA Oxytocin modulates unconditioned fear response in lactating dams: an fMRI study Brain Res 2009 1302 183 193 19766607 PMC3968865 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Pup-suckling triggers OT, which mediates milk ejection.

    “Pup-suckling triggers OT, which mediates milk ejection (26).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [26] Brunton PJ Russell JA The expectant brain: adapting for motherhood Nat Rev Neurosci 2008 9 11 25 18073776 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Prolonged exposure to baby-cry is stressful, placing demands on the mother to act, and triggers the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.

    “Prolonged exposure to baby-cry is stressful, placing demands on the mother to act, and triggers the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis (49).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [49] Sapolsky RM Romero LM Munck AU How do glucocorticoids influence stress responses? Integrating permissive, suppressive, stimulatory, and preparative actions Endocr Rev 2000 21 55 89 10696570 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    OT may enhance parenting motivation by enhancing positive emotions and care-related brain circuits, at the same time as also attenuating negative fear and aversion circuits.

    “These studies suggest that OT may enhance parenting motivation by enhancing positive emotions and care-related brain circuits, at the same time as also attenuating negative fear and aversion circuits.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Exposure to baby faces is associated with maternal hypothalamus activation that correlates with serum OT, contributing to increased reward circuitry and decreased negative social assessment circuits in maternal brains.

    “This may be similar to the way in which exposure to baby faces is associated with maternal hypothalamus activation that correlates with serum OT (43) to contribute to increased reward circuitry and decrease negative social assessment circuits in maternal brains (44).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [43] Strathearn L Fonagy P Amico J Montague PR Adult attachment predicts maternal brain and oxytocin response to infant cues Neuropsychopharmacology 2009 34 2655 2666 19710635 PMC3041266 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [44] Bartels A Zeki S The neural correlates of maternal and romantic love Neuroimage 2004 21 1155 1166 15006682 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Plasma CORT decreases in human mothers, potentially through the suckling-induced OT that can inhibit ACTH secretion.

    “On the other hand, plasma CORT decreases in human mothers (54), potentially through the suckling-induced OT (55) that can inhibit ACTH secretion (56).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [54] Amico JA Johnston JM Vagnucci AH Suckling-induced attenuation of plasma cortisol concentrations in postpartum lactating women Endocr Res 1994 20 79 87 8168464 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [55] Chiodera P Salvarani C Bacchi-Modena A Spallanzani R Cigarini C Alboni A Gardini E Coiro V Relationship between plasma profiles of oxytocin and adrenocorticotropic hormone during suckling or breast stimulation in women Horm Res 1991 35 119 123 1666892 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [56] Legros JJ Inhibitory effect of oxytocin on corticotrope function in humans: are vasopressin and oxytocin ying-yang neurohormones? Psychoneuroendocrinology 2001 26 649 655 11500247 source

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    CORT will rise after dopamine to assist with the stress responses needed for immediate concerns, as well as extended periods of caring behaviours.

    “In Fig. 1, we suggest that CORT will rise after dopamine to assist with the stress responses needed for immediate concerns, as well as extended periods of caring behaviours.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Microinjection of a DA-stimulating drug enhanced only the motivation component but did not alter hedonic impact or the learned prediction signal.

    “conversely, microinjection of a DA-stimulating drug enhanced only the motivation component but did not alter hedonic impact or the learned prediction signal (61).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [61] Smith KS Berridge KC Aldridge JW Disentangling pleasure from incentive salience and learning signals in brain reward circuitry Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2011 108 E255 E264 21670308 PMC3131314 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The EO system may play a central role in the hedonic experience of a mother who, perhaps after breastfeeding, sees her baby smile, such that subsequent sensitive interactions may then be reinforced.

    “Thus, the EO system may play a central role in the hedonic experience of a mother who, perhaps after breastfeeding, sees her baby smile, such that subsequent sensitive interactions may then be reinforced.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    EO contributes to maternal euphoria and the inhibition of stress-related HPA reactivity to protect the foetus in the late-gestation and lactation phases.

    “Additionally, EO contributes to maternal euphoria and the inhibition of stress-related HPA reactivity to protect the foetus in the late-gestation (65) and lactation phases (65).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [65] Brunton PJ Russell JA Douglas AJ Adaptive responses of the maternal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis during pregnancy and lactation J Neuroendocrinol 2008 20 764 776 18601699 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    EO serve as mediator of social rewards, affiliation, motivation and attenuation of separation-induced pain and anxiety.

    “Overall, EO serve as mediator of social rewards, affiliation, motivation and attenuation of separation-induced pain and anxiety (66)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [66] Nelson EE Panksepp J Brain substrates of infant-mother attachment: contributions of opioids, oxytocin, and norepinephrine Neurosci Biobehav Rev 1998 22 437 452 9579331 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Microinjections of an opioid-stimulating drug to nucleus accumbens increased the hedonic liking impact of sucrose on behaviour and incentive salience signals in firing to the cue associated with the reward, although they did not alter firing signals to the learned reward prediction signals as part of reinforcement learning.

    “In an animal study, microinjections of an opioid-stimulating drug to nucleus accumbens increased the hedonic liking impact of sucrose on behaviour and incentive salience signals in firing to the cue associated with the reward, although they did not alter firing signals to the learned reward prediction signals as part of reinforcement learning”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [61] Smith KS Berridge KC Aldridge JW Disentangling pleasure from incentive salience and learning signals in brain reward circuitry Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2011 108 E255 E264 21670308 PMC3131314 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The sensitive and powerful interactions between EO and DA in central reward circuitry render narcotic addictions very difficult to treat, potentially by intertwining addiction with primal social attachment needs.

    “Indeed, the sensitive and powerful interactions between EO and DA in central reward circuitry render narcotic addictions very difficult to treat, potentially by intertwining addiction with primal social attachment needs.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    A phenomenological resemblance between narcotic addiction and social attachment has been proposed: both display an initial attachment phase, a tolerance-development phase and similar symptoms upon withdrawal.

    “a phenomenological resemblance between narcotic addiction and social attachment has been proposed: both display an initial attachment phase, a tolerance-development phase and similar symptoms upon withdrawal (67).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [67] Panksepp J Herman BH Vilberg T Bishop P DeEskinazi FG Endogenous opioids and social behavior Neurosci Biobehav Rev 1980 4 473 487 6258111 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationnone given

    There are many gaps in the literature with respect to DA and EO in humans.

    “However, there are many gaps in the literature with respect to DA and EO in humans.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    In the first study of clinically depressed mothers using own-baby-cry, the brain response was essentially eliminated by depression in a distributed network of paralimbic and prefrontal regions, which displayed an inverse correlation between response and depression severity, including function in prefrontal areas and the striatum.

    “Also, very recently and in the first study of clinically depressed mothers using own-baby-cry, the brain response was essentially eliminated by depression in a distributed network of paralimbic and prefrontal regions, which displayed an inverse correlation between response and depression severity, including function in prefrontal areas and the striatum (71).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [71] Laurent HK Ablow JC A cry in the dark: depressed mothers show reduced neural activation to their own infant’s cry Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2011 Epub Ahead of Print PMC3277361 21208990 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Interpretationreasoning

    EO levels rise with the satisfaction of attending to baby, presuming the cessation of baby-cry, breastfeeding behaviours.

    “In Fig. 1, we illustrate EO as rising with the satisfaction of attending to baby, presuming the cessation of baby-cry, breastfeeding behaviours.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    Evidence for the importance for OT and CORT in human parental response to baby-cry is well established in human mothers.

    “Evidence for the importance for OT and CORT in human parental response to baby-cry is well established in human mothers.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Postpartum depression affects the cortical-amygdala connections that are important for mood regulation and motivation, thus impairing parenting.

    “Taken together with known variations in frontal cortex activity in mothers as a function of depression symptoms (37), it appears that postpartum depression affects the cortical–amygdala connections that are important for mood regulation and motivation, thus impairing parenting.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [37] Swain JE Tasgin E Mayes LC Feldman R Constable RT Leckman JF Maternal brain response to own baby-cry is affected by cesarean section delivery J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2008 49 1042 1052 18771508 PMC3246837 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationnone given

    Human parent brain responses to baby stimuli were reviewed to be largely in agreement and to build upon largely subcortical animal models, including reward circuits (midbrain, nucleus accumbens, amygdala, OFC, anterior cingulate cortex, insula) and social cognition regions (medial prefrontal cortex, superior temporal gyrus, OFC).

    “Human parent brain responses to baby stimuli were reviewed to be largely in agreement and to build upon largely subcortical animal models, including reward circuits (midbrain, nucleus accumbens, amygdala, OFC, anterior cingulate cortex, insula) and social cognition regions (medial prefrontal cortex, superior temporal gyrus, OFC).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
26 of 26

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The parent–infant bond is central to the human condition, contributes to risks for mood and anxiety disorders, and provides potential for resiliency and protection against psychopathology.

    “The parent–infant bond is central to the human condition, contributes to risks for mood and anxiety disorders, and provides the potential for resiliency and protection against the development of psychopathology.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Animal models of parenting provide compelling evidence that biological mechanisms may be studied in humans.

    “Animal models of parenting provide compelling evidence that biological mechanisms may be studied in humans.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Parenting is critical for an infant’s survival and development across mammalian species.

    “Parenting is critical for an infant’s survival and development across mammalian species.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    In animal models, components of the reward system are critical for parenting.

    “In animal models, components of the reward system are critical for parenting.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Baby-cry must be analysed to determine whether it is calling for protection or food.

    “For example, baby-cry must be analysed to determine whether it is calling for protection or food.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The infant–mother dyad may enjoy a moment of rewarding happiness after baby-cry ceases and lactation has occurred.

    “Once baby-cry ceases, and lactation has occurred, the infant–mother dyad may enjoy a moment of rewarding happiness.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The BOLD signals of fMRI data are indirect measures of neural activity, susceptible to non-neural changes in the participant’s body and environment.

    “First, the BOLD signals of the fMRI data are indirect measures of neural activity, such that the data are susceptible to non-neural changes in the participant’s body and environment.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Imaging data provide information on association, rather than causality, between brain and behaviour.

    “Second, imaging data provide information on the association, rather than causality, between brain and behaviour.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Studies must use simple tasks and stimuli to simulate the performance of parenting behaviours because of limitations of space and movement in the scanner.

    “Third, because of the limitations of space and movement in the scanner, studies must use simple tasks and stimuli to simulate the performance of parenting behaviours.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Differences in parenting brain function are subject to many factors that are not typically controlled, including early-life experiences and postpartum timing and environment, as is the case for hormonal measures in parents.

    “Finally, differences in parenting brain function are subject to many factors that are not typically controlled, including early-life experiences (6) and postpartum timing and environment (7–9), as is the case for hormonal measures in parents (10,11).”
10 of 10

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • Direct somatic contact with the offspring mainly initiates a nursing response, while other sensory stimuli like cries or odors contribute essentially to arousal and orientation.

    “direct somatic contact with the offspring mainly initiates a nursing response, while other sensory stimuli like cries or odors contribute essentially to arousal and orientation”

    From Neuromodulation of maternal circuits by oxytocin (2019) · cites this paper as Swain et al., 2011

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. Swain JE, 2011, Functional brain activations of parents listening to their own baby‐cry change over the early postpartum, Dev Psychobiol
  2. Swain JE, 2003, The neural circuitry of parent‐infant attachment in the early postpartum
  3. Kim P, 2011, Primary parental preoccupation and the transition from adulthood to parenthood, Infant Mental Health J

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Authors
Swain, J. E., Kim, P., & Ho, S. S.
Affiliations
  • University of Michigan (US)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (US)
Corresponding author
Swain, J. E.
ORCID
Swain, J. E.
Venue
Journal of Neuroendocrinology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2011-10-18
Volume
23
Issue
11
Pages
1036-1041
ISSN
  • 0953-8194 (ISSN-L)
  • 1365-2826
DOI
10.1111/j.1365-2826.2011.02212.x
PMC
PMC4319977
OpenAlex
W1537773060
Semantic Scholar
15e06a452855c9bde832259397899b54f85a8116
Cited by
106
References
72
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 20 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 5
FWCI
1.44
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • Journal of Neuroendocrinology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Deep Blue (University of Michigan) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Yale University
  • Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine
  • University of Michigan (UL1 RR024986)
  • National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression
  • Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research (UL 1RR024986)
  • National Center for Research Resources (UL1RR024986)
  • National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (RC2MD004767, IRC2MD004767-01)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Infant Health and Development
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
Keywords
parental reactions, stress response, motivation, social cognition, striatum, amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus, anterior cingulate cortex, insula, orbitofrontal cortex, resilience, mood and anxiety disorders
MeSH terms
Adult, Crying, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Neuroendocrinology, Parents

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