Neuroscience 2005 Abstract
| Presentation Number: | 419.7 |
|---|---|
| Abstract Title: | Functional magnetic resonance imaging reveals pup suckling selectively activates the olfactory system over other sensory modalities. |
| Authors: |
Kulkarni, P. P.*1
; Sullivan, J. M.1
; Febo, M.2
; Numan, M.3
; Harder, J. A.2
; Messenger, T. L.2
; Bridges, R.4
; Ferris, C. F.2
1Bioengineering, Worcester Polytechnic Inst., Worcester, MA 2MA, 100 Institute Road, 01609, 3USA, 100 Institute Road, 01609, 4Center for Comparative Neuroimaging, 100 Institute Road, 01609, |
| Primary Theme and Topics |
Cognition and Behavior - Motivation and Emotion -- Maternal behavior |
| Session: |
419. Maternal Behavior II Poster |
| Presentation Time: | Monday, November 14, 2005 10:00 AM-11:00 AM |
| Location: | Washington Convention Center - Hall A-C, Board # JJ21 |
| Keywords: | Pup Suckling, OLFACTORY |
Epochal developmental events like pregnancy and lactation can alter cortical organization and representation affecting memory, perception and attendant behavior. This study used fMRI to observe cortical activation in conscious, first time mother (primiparous) rats in response to pup suckling vs the general tactile stimulus of mechanical rubbing.
Pup suckling and general tactile stimulation over the long hair of the ventrum and hairless skin of the nipples and areolas resulted in a similar pattern of cortical activation in primiparous dams. Ventrum rubbing in virgin females activated the same cortical areas. In addition to the anticipated stimulus-evoked activity in the somatosensory cortex, activation was observed in parietal, motor, temporal, cingulate, retrosplenial, auditory and visual cortices for all stimulus conditions. These activations suggest that the stimuli under these experimental conditions were not modality specific and promoted general arousal across the cortical mantel.
Interestingly, the specific stimulus of pup suckling caused the robust activation of the olfactory cortex that was not observed with general tactile stimulation in dams or virgins. Indeed, the entire primary olfactory system, was activated by suckling in dams. This response is of particular interest since the brain areas activated are specific to the sensory modality of smell not touch. This finding suggests that the olfactory cortex, activated only through the complex stimulus of suckling, may be critical to the organization and representation of the primiparous experience and the attending evolution of maternal behavior in mammals.
Pup suckling and general tactile stimulation over the long hair of the ventrum and hairless skin of the nipples and areolas resulted in a similar pattern of cortical activation in primiparous dams. Ventrum rubbing in virgin females activated the same cortical areas. In addition to the anticipated stimulus-evoked activity in the somatosensory cortex, activation was observed in parietal, motor, temporal, cingulate, retrosplenial, auditory and visual cortices for all stimulus conditions. These activations suggest that the stimuli under these experimental conditions were not modality specific and promoted general arousal across the cortical mantel.
Interestingly, the specific stimulus of pup suckling caused the robust activation of the olfactory cortex that was not observed with general tactile stimulation in dams or virgins. Indeed, the entire primary olfactory system, was activated by suckling in dams. This response is of particular interest since the brain areas activated are specific to the sensory modality of smell not touch. This finding suggests that the olfactory cortex, activated only through the complex stimulus of suckling, may be critical to the organization and representation of the primiparous experience and the attending evolution of maternal behavior in mammals.
Supported by NIMH R01-MH58700
Sample Citation:
[Authors]. [Abstract Title]. Program No. XXX.XX. 2005 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. Washington, DC: Society for Neuroscience, 2005. Online.
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