Cited by 268Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorAttachment and Relationship DynamicsChild Abuse and Trauma

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Maternal Neglect: Oxytocin, Dopamine and the Neurobiology of Attachment

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Strathearn, L.·2011·Journal of Neuroendocrinology

DOI 10.1111/j.1365-2826.2011.02228.xPMC PMC3319675

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Abstract

Maternal neglect, including physical and emotional neglect, is a pervasive public health challenge with serious long‐term effects on child health and development. I provide an overview of the neurobiological basis of maternal caregiving, aiming to better understand how to prevent and respond to maternal neglect. Drawing from both animal and human studies, key biological systems are identified that contribute to maternal caregiving behaviour, focusing on the oxytocinergic and dopaminergic systems. Mesocorticolimbic and nigrostriatal dopamine pathways contribute to the processing of infant‐related sensory cues leading to a behavioural response. Oxytocin may activate the dopaminergic reward pathways in response to social cues. Human neuroimaging studies are summarised that demonstrate parallels between animal and human maternal caregiving responses in the brain. By comparing different patterns of human adult attachment, we gain a clearer understanding of how differences in maternal brain and endocrine responses may contribute to maternal neglect. For example, in insecure/dismissing attachment, which may be associated with emotional neglect, we see reduced activation of the mesocorticolimbic dopamine reward system in response to infant face cues, as well as decreased peripheral oxytocin response to mother–infant contact. We are currently testing whether the administration of intranasal oxytocin, as part of a randomised placebo controlled trial, may reverse some of these neurological differences, and potentially augment psychosocial and behavioural interventions for maternal neglect.

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Authors: Strathearn, L.
Affiliations: Baylor College of Medicine (US)
Corresponding author: Strathearn, L.
ORCID: Strathearn, L.
Venue: Journal of Neuroendocrinology
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2011-10-18
Volume: 23
Issue: 11
Pages: 1054-1065
ISSN: 0953-8194 (ISSN-L)
1365-2826
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2826.2011.02228.x
PMC: PMC3319675
OpenAlex: W1586996126
Cited by: 268
References: 105
Citations by year: 2026: 6 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 24 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 23 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 29 · 2015: 21 · 2014: 20 · 2013: 19 · 2012: 10
FWCI: 2.02
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Licence: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations: Journal of Neuroendocrinology (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders: National Institutes of Health
National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA026437, P01DA022446, P0 DA022446)
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R01HD065819)
Topics: Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
Keywords: maternal neglect, maternal care, oxytocin, dopamine, attachment, nigrostriatal dopamine pathway, emotional neglect, infant face processing, mother-infant contact, intranasal oxytocin
MeSH terms: Child, Child Abuse, Dopamine, Humans, Mothers, Oxytocin

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Maternal Neglect: Oxytocin, Dopamine and the Neurobiology of Attachment

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