EDUCATION

Academic Degrees:
1964 B.A.(cum laude) in Biology and Psychology, Brooklyn College of the City University of New York.

1970 Ph.D., Psychobiology, Rutgers -- The State University of New Jersey, Institute of Animal Behavior, Newark. Advisor: Daniel S. Lehrman

Doctoral Dissertation: Distribution and binding of ³H-androgens in neural and peripheral tissues of rats and ring doves: Effects of progesterone and other steroid hormones.

Scholarships and Fellowships:

1960-64 New York State College Scholarship

1963-64 National Science Foundation, Undergraduate Research Assistantship, Department of Animal Behavior, American Museum of Natural History, New York. Supervisor: Lester Aronson.

1965-69 National Institute of Mental Health, Predoctoral Fellow

1970-72 National Institute of Mental Health, Biomedical Sciences Postdoctoral Fellow, Psychiatry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA. Supervisor: Seymour Levine

EMPLOYMENT

1972-73 Research Associate with Dr. Seymour Levine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA

1973-78 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Rutgers -- The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ

1978-91 Associate Professor, Rutgers

1991- Professor, Rutgers

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Physiological bases of reproductive behavior, especially sensory, neural, and endocrine mechanisms involved in the control of maternal behavior.

GRANT SUPPORT: Recent and Present Funding

1990-97 Psychobiology of maternal behavior. NIMH MH 40459:06-10; 9/30/90-8/31/95; $439,069, direct costs; extended to 8/31/97. Renewal pending review.

1997-99 Neurobiology of maternal nurturance. Busch Bequest Grant, $20,000 (co-PI: Thomas Walsh, Psychology, Rutgers-New Brunswick).

1999-2001 Mesotelencephalic dopamine and maternal behavior. Busch Bequest Grant, $20,000 (co-PI: Sid Auerbach, Biological Scienes, Rutgers-New Brunswick).

COURSES TAUGHT

Undergraduate

Abnormal Psychology

Early Experiences and Development (Senior Seminar)

General Psychology;

Hormones and Behavior

Nobel Prize Women in Science (FAS Honors Seminar)

Principles of Psychobiology

Psychobiology of Maternal Behavior (Douglass Honors Seminar)

Psychology of Sex & Gender (formerly Psychobiology of Sex Differences in Behavior)

Physiological Psychology

Women: Our Bodies, Ourselves (Senior Seminar)

Graduate

Hormones, Brain and Behavior

Prenatal and Perinatal Development

Contributions to Proseminars and Principles of Psychobiology
 

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

National/International Service and Honors:

l974-78 Member, Neuropsychology Research Review Committee, National Institute of Mental Health

l979-8l Secretary-Treasurer, International Society for Developmental Psychobiology

l974- Ad hoc journal reviewer: American Journal of Physiology; American Psychologist; Animal Behavior; Animal Learning and Behavior; Behavioural Biology; Behavioural Processes; Behavioral and Neural Biology; Biology of Reproduction; Developmental Psychobiology; Hormones and Behavior; Infant Behavior & Development; Journal of Comparative Psychology; Journal of Endocrinology; New England Journal of Medicine; Nutrition & Behavior; Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior; Physiology & Behavior; Science.

l975- Ad hoc grant proposal reviewer: NSF; NIMH; NIH; Medical Research Council of Canada

1991-4 President-elect, President, Immediate Past President, International Society for Developmental Psychobiology

1998- Fellow, International Behavioral Neuroscience Society
 

Editorial Board Memberships:

1987- Hormones and Behavior

1988- Archives of Sexual Behavior

1988- Physiology & Behavior

2000- Developmental Psychobiology
 

Current Memberships in Professional Societies:

International Society for Developmental Psychobiology; New York Academy of Sciences; Sigma Xi; Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology; Society for Neurosciences
 

Community Service:

l982-86 Member, Board of Trustees, Rutgers Community Health Plan (HMO)

1985-87 Chair, Rutgers Hillel Faculty Group

1986- Member, Board of Directors, Rutgers Community Health Foundation

1990-93 Member, Board of Directors, Planned Parenthood League of Middlesex County

1993-95 Secretary, Board of Directors, Rutgers Community Health Foundation
 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

JOURNAL ARTICLES

Refereed

Stern JM, Lehrman DS. Role of testosterone in progesterone-induced incubation behaviour in male ring doves (Streptopelia risoria). Journal of Endocrinology, 1969, 44, 13-22.

Stern JM, Eisenfeld AJ. Androgen accumulation and binding of macromolecules in seminal vesicles: Inhibition by cyproterone. Science, 1969, 166, 233-235.

Stern JM, Eisenfeld AJ. Distribution and metabolism of ³H-testosterone in castrated male rats: Effects of cyproterone, progesterone and unlabelled testosterone. Endocrinology, 1971, 88, 1117-1125.

Stern JM. Androgen accumulation in hypothalamus and anterior pituitary of male ring doves: Influence of steroid hormones. General and Comparative Endocrinology, 1972, 18, 439-449.

Zigmond RE, Stern JM,,McEwen BS. Retention of radioactivity in cell nuclei in the hypothalamus of the ring dove after injection of ³H-testosterone. General and Comparative Endocrinology, 1972, 18, 450-453.

Stern JM, Levine S. Pituitary-adrenal activity in the post-partum rat in the absence of suckling stimulation. Hormones and Behavior, 1972, 3, 237-246.

Stern JM, Erskine M, Levine S. Dissociation of open-field behavior and pituitary- adrenal function. Hormones and Behavior, 1973, 4, 149-162.

Stern JM, Goldman L, Levine S. Pituitary-adrenal responsiveness during lactation in rats. Neuroendocrinology, 1973, 12, 179-191.

Stern JM, Voogt JL. Comparison of plasma corticosterone and prolactin levels in cycling and lactating rats. Neuroendocrinology, 1973-74, 13, 173-181.

Stern JM. Estrogen facilitation of progesterone-induced incubation behavior in castrated male ring doves. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1974, 87, 332-337.

Erskine M, Stern JM, Levine S. Effects of prepubertal handling on shock-induced fighting and ACTH in male and female rats. Physiology & Behavior, 1975, l4, 4l3-420.

Levin R, Stern JM. Maternal influences on ontogeny of suckling and feeding rhythms in the rat. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1975, 89, 711-721.

Stern JM, Levin R. Food availability as a determinant of the rats' circadian rhythm in maternal behavior. Developmental Psychobiology, 1976, 9, 137-148.

Stern JM, MacKinnon DA. Postpartum, hormonal and non-hormonal induction of maternal behavior in rats: Effects on T-maze retrieval of pups. Hormones and Behavior, 1976, 7, 305-316.

MacKinnon DA, Stern JM. Pregnancy duration and fetal number: Effects on maternal behavior of rats. Physiology and Behavior, 1977, 18, 793-797.

Stern JM. Effects of ergocryptine on postpartum maternal behavior, ovarian cyclicity and food intake in rats. Behavioral Biology, 1977, 21, 134-140.

Chapman RH, Stern JM, Libert JA. Lordosis reflex, sexual receptivity and feeding: Estrogen responsivity in male and female rats. Physiological Psychology, 1977, 5, 373-377.

Stern JM, Siegel HI. Prolactin release in lactating, primiparous and multiparous thelectomized, and maternal virgin rats exposed to pup stimuli. Biology of Reproduction, 1978, 19, 177-182.

Chapman RH, Stern JM. Effects of maternal stress and pituitary-adrenal manipulations during pregnancy in rats on morphology and sexual behavior of male offspring. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1978, 92, 1074-1083.

Stern JM, MacKinnon DA. Sensory regulation of maternal behavior in virgin rats: Effects of pup age. Developmental Psychobiology, 1978, 11, 579-586.

Chapman RH, Stern JM. Failure of severe maternal stress or ACTH during pregnancy to affect emotionality of male rat offspring: Implications of litter effects for prenatal studies. Developmental Psychobiology, 1979, 12, 255-267.

Anandam N, Felegi W, Stern JM. In utero alcohol heightens juvenile reactivity. Pharmacology, Biochemistry, & Behavior, 1980, 13, 531-535.

Anandam N, Stern JM. Alcohol in utero: Effects on preweaning appetitive learning. Neurobehavior & Toxicology, 1980, 2, 199-205.

Stern JM, Strait T. Reproductive success, postpartum maternal behavior, and masculine sexual behavior of neonatally androgenized female hamsters. Hormones and Behavior, 1983, 17, 208-224.

Stern JM. Maternal behavior priming in virgin and Caesarean-delivered Long-Evans rats: Effects of brief contact or continuous exteroceptive pup stimulation. Physiology & Behavior, 1983, 31, 757-763.

Allen TO, Stern JM, Adler NT. Metabolic responses to suckling in postpartum lactating rats. Brain Research, 1984, 291, 351-355.

Stern JM, Thomas DA, Rabii J, Barfield RJ. Do pup ultrasonic cries provoke prolactin secretion in lactating rats? Hormones and Behavior, 1984, 18, 86-94.

Stern JM. Parturition experience influences initial pup preferences at later onset of maternal behavior in primiparous rats. Physiology & Behavior, 1985, 35, 25-31.

Stern JM, Konner M, Herman T, Reichlin S. Nursing behaviour, prolactin and postpartum amenorrhoea during prolonged lactation in American and !Kung mothers. Clinical Endocrinology, 1986, 25, 247-258.

Stern JM. Pubertal decline in maternal responsiveness in Long-Evans rats: Maturational influences. Physiology & Behavior, 1987, 4l, 93-99

Stern JM, Rogers L. Experience with younger siblings facilitates maternal responsiveness in pubertal Norway rats. Developmental Psychobiology, 1988, 21, 575-589.

Stern JM, McDonald C. Ovarian hormone-induced short-latency maternal behavior in ovariectomized Long-Evans rats. Hormones and Behavior, 1989, 23, 157-172.

Stern JM, Johnson SK. Perioral somatosensory determinants of nursing behavior in Norway rats. Journal of Comparative Psychology, 1989, 103, 269-280.

Stern JM, Kolunie JM. Perioral anesthesia disrupts maternal behavior during early lactation in Long-Evans Rats. Behavioral and Neural Biology, 1989, 52, 20-38.

Stern JM. Multisensory regulation of maternal behavior and masculine sexual behavior: A revised view. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 1990, 14, 183-200.

Stern JM, Reichlin S. Prolactin circadian rhythm persists throughout lactation in women. Neuroendocrinology, 1990, 51, 31-37.

Stern JM, Johnson SK. Ventral somatosensory determinants of nursing behavior in Norway rats. I. Effects of variations in the quality and quantity of pup stimuli. Physiology & Behavior, 1990, 47, 993-1011. Monograph

Kolunie JM, Stern JM. Maternal aggression: Disruption by perioral anesthesia in lactating Norway rats. Journal of Comparative Psychology, 1990, 104, 352-360.

Stern JM, Taylor LA. Haloperidol inhibits maternal retrieval and licking, but facilitates nursing behavior and milk ejection in lactating rats. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 1991, 3, 591-596.

Stern JM, Kolunie JM. Trigeminal lesions and maternal behavior in rats. I. Effects of cutaneous rostral snout denervation on maintenance of nurturance and maternal aggression. Behavioral Neuroscience, 1991, 105, 984-997.

Morgan HD, Fleming AS, Stern JM. Somatosensory control of the onset and retention of maternal responsiveness in primiparous Sprague-Dawley rats. Physiology & Behavior, 1992, 51, 549-556.

Stern JM, Dix L, Bellomo, C, Thramann C. Ventral trunk somatosensory determinants of nursing behavior in Norway rats. II. Role of nipple and surrounding sensations. Psychobiology, 1992, 20, 71-80.

Stern JM, Kolunie JM. Maternal aggression of rats is impaired by cutaneous anesthesia of ventral trunk, but not by nipple removal. Physiology & Behavior, 1993, 54, 861-868.

Xerri C, Stern JM, Merzenich, MM. Alterations of the cortical representation of the rat ventrum induced by nursing behavior. Journal of Neuroscience, 1994, 14, 1710-1721.

Kolunie JM, Stern JM, Barfield RJ. Maternal agression in rats: Effects of visual or auditory deprivation of the mother and dyadic pattern of ultrasonic vocalizations. Behavioral and Neural Biology, 1994, 62, 41-49.

Kolunie JM, Stern JM. Maternal aggression in rats: Effects of olfactory bulbectomy, ZnSO₄-induced anosmia, and vomeronasal organ removal. Hormones and Behavior, 1995, 29, 492-518.

Stern JM, Lonstein JS. Nursing behavior in rats is impaired in a small nestbox and with hyperthermic pups. Developmental Psychobiology, 1996, 29, 101-122.

Stern JM. Trigeminal lesions and maternal behavior in Norway rats: II. Disruption of parturition. Physiology & Behavior, 1996, 60, 187-190.

Stern JM. Trigeminal lesions and maternal behavior in Norway rats. III. Experience with pups affects retrieval. Developmental Psychobiology, 1997, 30, 115-126.

Lonstein JL, Stern JM. Role of the midbrain periaqueductal gray in maternal nurturance and aggression: c-fos and electrolytic lesion studies in lactating rats. Journal of Neuroscience, 1997, 17, 3364-3378.

Lonstein JL, Stern JM. Somatosensory contributions to c-fos activation in the caudal periaqueductal gray of lactating rats: effects of perioral, rooting, and suckling stimuli from pups. Hormones and Behavior, 1997, 32, 155-166.

Lonstein JS, Simmons DA, Swann JM, Stern JM. Forebrain expression of c-fos due to active maternal behavior in lactating rats. Neuroscience,1998, 82, 267-281.

Lonstein JL, Stern JM. Site and behavioral specificity of periaqueductal gray lesions on postpartum sexual, maternal, and aggressive behaviors in rats. Brain Research, 1998, 804, 21-35.

Stern JM, Keer SE. Maternal motivation of lactating rats is disrupted by low dosages of haloperidol. Behavioural Brain Research, 1998, 99, 231-239.

Lonstein JS, Simmons DA, Stern JM. Functions of the caudal periaqueductal gray in lactating rats: kyphosis, lordosis, maternal aggression and fearfulness. Behavioral Neuroscience, 1998, 112, 1-17.

Lonstein JL, Stern JM. Unilateral suckling elicits bilaterally-symmetrical kyphotic nursing behavior and c-fos activity in the caudal periaqueductal gray. Developmental Psychobiology, 1999, 35, 264-275.

Keer SE, Stern JM. Dopamine receptor blockade in the nucleus accumbens inhibits maternal retrieval and licking, but enhances nursing behavior in lactating rats. Physiology & Behavior, 1999, 67, 659-669.

Stern JM, Protomastro M. Effects of low dosages of apomorphine on maternal responsiveness in lactating rats. Pharmacology, Biochemistry, & Behavior, 2000, 65(4), in press.

Research Summary (Non-refereed)

Stern JM. Nursing behavior: Effects on physiology of American and !Kung mothers during prolonged lactation. The Journal of the Central New Jersey Medical Group, Spring, 1987.
 

CHAPTERS AND REVIEWS (BOOKS, CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS)

Stern JM, Levine S. Psychobiological aspects of lactation in rats. In "Progress in Brain Research", Vol. 41: "Integrative Hypothalamic Activity", DG Swaab, JP Schade (Eds.). Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1974, pp. 433-444.

Stern JM, Levine S. Neuroendocrine changes during lactation in rats. In "Modern Problems in Pediatrics", Vol. 15: "Milk and Lactation", N Kretchmer, E Rossi, F Sereni (Eds.). S. Karger, Basel, 1975, pp. 106-ll6.

Stern JM, Leiblum SR. Postpartum sexual behaviour of American women as a function of the absence or frequency of breastfeeding: a preliminary communication. In "Primate Ontogeny, Cognition and Social Behaviour", Proceedings, Tenth Congress of the International Primatological Society, Vol. 3. J Else, P. Lee (Eds.), Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, England, 1986, pp. 315-325.

Stern JM. Licking, touching and suckling: Contact stimulation and maternal psychobiology in rats and women. In "Reproduction: A Behavioral and Neuroendocrine Perspective", BR Komisaruk, HI Siegel, MF Cheng, HH Feder (Eds.), Annals of The New York Academy of Sciences, Vol. 474, 1986, pp. 95-107.

Stern JM. A revised view of the multisensory control of maternal behaviour in rats: Critical role of tactile inputs. In "Ethoexperimental Approaches to the Study of Behavior", R Blanchard, PF Brain, C Blanchard, S Parmigiani (Eds.), Kluwer Academic Publishers, Boston. NATO ASI Series, Series D-Vol. 48, 1989, pp. 301-310.

Stern JM. Maternal behavior: Sensory, hormonal, and neural determinants. In "Psychoendocrinology", FR Brush, S Levine (Eds.), Academic Press, NY, 1989, pp. 105-226.

Stern JM. Somatosensation and maternal care in Norway rats. In "Parental Care: Evolution, Mechanisms, and Adaptive Significance," JS Rosenblatt, CT Snowden, Eds.), Advances in the study of behavior, Vol. 25, Academic Press, NY, 1996, pp. 243-294.

Stern JM. Offspring-induced nurturance: Animal-human parallels. In "Growing Points in Developmental Psychobiology," proceedings of a conference in honor of Dr. Seymour Levine, Tuscon, Arizona, October 8-10, 1995. Developmental Psychobiology, 1997, 31,19-37.

Stern JM, Lonstein JS Neural circuitry involved in the expression of maternal behaviour.  In "Progress in Brain Research: The   Maternal Brain," CD Ingram, JA Russell (Eds.), Elsevier, Amsterdam: 2000, in press.
 

BOOK REVIEWS

Stern JM. Sexual progress. Review of "Reproductive Behavior," W Montagna, and

Sadler, Eds. Contemporary Psychology, 1975, 20, 797-798.

Stern JM. Understanding mother love. Review of "Mammalian Parenting: Biochemical, Neurobiological, and Behavioral Determinants," NA Krasnegor, RS Bridges (Eds.), Oxford University Press, 1990. Contemporary Psychology, 1991, 36, 678-679.
 

PUBLISHED ABSTRACTS (SELECTED)

Stern JM, Yu Y-L, Crockett DC. Spinal pathway mediating suckling-induced nursing behavior and neuroendocrine reflexes. Society for Neuroscience 19:1610, 1993.

Protomastro M, Stern JM. Nursing behavior in lactation-suppressed postpartum Long- Evans rats during and after treatment with bromocriptine. Developmental Psychobiology 28:193, 1995.

Simmons DA, Keer SE, Stern JM. Haloperidol disrupts maternal motivation in lactating Long-Evans rats. Developmental Psychobiology, 29:297, 1996.

Keer SE, Stern JM. Satiety of pups regulates decline of nursing duration with time postpartum in lactating Long-Evans rats. Society for Neuroscience 22:1151, 1996.

Lonstein JS, Simmons, DA, Stern JM. Periaqueductal gray lesions, pre- or postpartum, specifically impair kyphotic nursing behavior but facilitate maternal aggression in Long-Evans rats. Society for Neuroscience 22:1151, 1996.

Lonstein JS, Simmons DA, Stern JM Effects of periaqueductal gray lesions on nursing, aggressive, fear, and sexual behaviors in lactating rats. Abstr Dev Psychobiol 30: 1997.

Stern, JM, Gallo, M.  Pattern of brain activation of c-fos after maternal aggression in lactating Long-Evans rats. Society for   Neuroscience 24: 951, 1998.

Salzberg HC, Lonstein JS, Stern JM GABAergic inhibition of the caudal, ventrolateral periaqueductal gray of kyphotic nursing  and lordotic sexual receptivity postures, but not maternal aggression, in lactating rats.  Society for Neuroscience 25; 1999.

Lonstein JS, Gréco B, De Vries GJ, Stern JM, Blaustein JD Colocalization of Fos and estrogen receptor-  in the neurons of   lactating rats.  Society for Neuroscience 25, 1999.
 

INVITED COLLOQUIA (SINCE 1987)

1987 New York Infancy Group, NYC

Division of Developmental Psychobiology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons

Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Buffalo.

1987 Department of Psychology, University of Toronto

Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, UMDNJ, Piscataway, NJ

1988 Department of Anatomy, Cambridge University, Cambridge, England

Institute of Animal Behavior, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ

1989 Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, CA

Department of Psychobiology,University of California, Irvine, CA

Neuroscience Program, Univ. Calif. Medical Center, San Francisco, CA

1990 Rockefeller University, NYC

Dept. of Psychology, Brooklyn College, City University of New York

Dept. of Psychology, Princeton University

1991 Animal Behavior Group, University of California, Davis

Center for Neurobiological Sciences and Dept. of Neuroscience, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville

1992 Animal Science Dept., Cook Coll., Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, NJ

Department of Psychology, Wright State University, Dayton, OH

Deptartment of Anatomy, Univ. of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., CA.

1994 Department of Psychology, SUNY-Binghamton, Binghamton, NY

Depts. of Psychology and Biology, Clarkson University, Pottsdam, NY

1996 Dept. of Psychology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE (April 3).

1998  1) Maternal behavior in rats: tactile and neural regulation of pronurturance and nurturance (March 12);
  2) Dopamine and maternal motivation (March 13).  Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada.

1999  Maternal behavior in rats: from reflexes to neural pathways.  Department of Anatomy and Embryology, University of Groningen Medical School, Groningen, The Netherlands (June 14)

1999  Role of the periaqueductal gray in lordosis, kyphosis, maternal aggression and fear in lactating rats.  Dept. of Anatomy and Embryology, University of Groningen Medical School, Groningen, The Netherlands (June 17).

1999  Maternal behavior in rats: Roles of the periaqueductal gray and nucleus accumbens.  Department of Animal Physiology, University of Groningen, Haren, The Netherlands (November 15).

1999  Maternal behavior in rats: Roles of the periaqueductal gray and nucleus accumbens.  Department of Anatomy,
  Free University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (November 19).
 
 
 

INVITED CONFERENCE ADDRESSES

1970 Brain uptake and metabolism of ³H-testosterone in the ring dove. Conference on Neural and Hormonal Mechanisms in Bird Behavior. Edinburgh, Scotland

1975 Biological bases of sex roles: Myths and realities. APA, Chicago, IL (Invited address in symposium "Ethical Issues in Neurosciences")

1979 Physiological responses to mothering. (Invited address at conference entitled "Parental Behavior: Its Causes and Consequences," Department of Psychology, Rutgers University)

1985 Effects of breastfeeding on sexual behavior and reproductive physiology. Eastern Psychological Association, Boston, MA (Invited symposium address)

1989 Multisensory regulation of maternal behavior and masculine sexual behavior: a revised view. Conference on Reproductive Behavior, Saratoga Springs, NY (Invited address, Frank Beach Memorial Symposium)

1989 You've come a long way, baby! Developmental Psychobiology's Second Generation Symposium, International Soc. for Developmental Psychobiology, San Francisco, CA

1993 Somatosensory determinants and consequences of maternal behavior in rats. Conference on Reproductive Behavior, East Lansing, MI

1993 Offspring-induced nurturance: Animal-human parallels. Presidential Address, International Soc. for Developmental Psychobiology, Alexandria, VA

1995 Offspring-induced nurturance: Animal-human parallels. Growing Points in Developmental Psychobiology, Tucson, AR

1996 Maternal behavior in rats: Likely interface sites between sensory and hormonal stimulation. Conference on Reproductive Behavior Symposium, Montreal, CA.
 
 

CONFERENCE SYMPOSIA ORGANIZED

Developmental Aspects of Food Intake. Winter Conference on Brain Research, Steamboat Springs, Colorado, January 19-25, 1975.

Animal Models of Human Sexual Behavior. Winter Conference on Brain Research,

Keystone, Colorodo, January 15-22, 1977.

Sensory and Neurochemical Bases of Maternal Behavior in Mammals. International Society for Developmental Psychobiology, Cambridge, England, July 2-6, 1990.
 

Research Description (150 words)

My research objective is to elucidate the neurobiological bases of maternal behavior, using rats as a model. Previous research established the critical roles for the trigeminal and suckling stimulation in the regulation, respectively, of pronurturant behaviors carried out with the mouth such as retrieval and licking of pups and nursing behavior, including the reflexive upright crouching posture, kyphosis. Recent work utilizing immunocytochemical visualization of the immediate-early gene, c-fos, revealed numerous forebrain sites activated by physical interactions with pups but only one site, in the caudal midbrain periaqueductal gray, that is activated more by suckling than non-suckling contact with pups. Lesions to this site selectively and severely reduce kyphosis and heighten maternal aggression toward a strange intruder. Future work will further delineate the kyphosis spinal cord-brainstem neural circuit, the quiescent state during nursing, and the role of various forebrain sites in the various components of maternal behavior, including their neurochemical mediation.