STATEMENT Across mammalian species, appropriate parental behavior is essential for the survival and success of the offspring. In humans, child neglect reportedly occurs in 15?20% of children and can have severe life-long physical and mental consequences. Possibly reflecting the fact that mothers are usually primary caregivers, approximately 70% of perpetrators of child neglect are reported to be the biological mother of the victim. In these cases, the mother?s limited interest, empathy, and interaction with the child can likely be attributed to low maternal motivation. Given that the neural substrates for maternal motivation remain unclear, options to improve maternal motivation are limited. To fill this knowledge gap, we have studied the neural bases of maternal behaviors in a genetically tractable model organism, namely mouse. Using a variety of functional manipulation approaches, we recently found that a genetically defined population of cells in the medial preoptic area (MPOA) is both necessary and sufficient for specific maternal behaviors. Our proposed study will expand on this preliminary finding by seeking to further investigate the natural responses and functions of this population in maternal behaviors. We are particularly interested in addressing whether the population carries information about maternal motivation and whether it mediates flexible pup-seeking behaviors in addition to species-specific innate maternal actions. Answers to these questions are important given that whereas maternal actions differ dramatically across mammalian species, the maternal motivation remains the same.
In Aim 1, we will use in vivo recording to examine the natural responses of the cells during various pup-directed behaviors in virgin and lactating females and ask how the responses are influenced by the motivational state of the female towards the pups, which will be determined based on characteristic pup-directed behaviors (e.g. infanticide and pup retrieval).
In Aim 2, we will use an operant responding task with pup reinforcement and various functional manipulation tools to address whether the activities of the cells signal the maternal motivation and drive flexible pup-seeking behaviors. This project will not only address a basic question in neuroscience regarding how instinct behavior is generated but also may reveal a key neural population that determines the level of maternal motivation. This knowledge will be essential for developing new strategies to improve maternal motivation and ultimately reduce the incidence of child maltreatment.

Public Health Relevance

Child neglect and abuse are prevalent social and health problems in the US. Maltreated children can suffer from lifelong physical, cognitive and mental problems, which impose significant burdens on the children, their family, and society as a whole. Our study seeks to understand the neural mechanism of maternal motivation, which is an essential first step to develop novel strategies to enhance maternal motivation and improve child neglect and abuse.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
5R21HD090563-02
Application #
9656148
Study Section
Neurobiology of Motivated Behavior Study Section (NMB)
Program Officer
Griffin, James
Project Start
2018-04-01
Project End
2020-03-31
Budget Start
2019-04-01
Budget End
2020-03-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2019
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
New York University
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
121911077
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10016
Sun, Fangmiao; Zeng, Jianzhi; Jing, Miao et al. (2018) A Genetically Encoded Fluorescent Sensor Enables Rapid and Specific Detection of Dopamine in Flies, Fish, and Mice. Cell 174:481-496.e19
Fang, Yi-Ya; Yamaguchi, Takashi; Song, Soomin C et al. (2018) A Hypothalamic Midbrain Pathway Essential for Driving Maternal Behaviors. Neuron 98:192-207.e10