Adult attachment predicts maternal brain and oxytocin response to infant cues.

摘要: Infant cues, such as smiling or crying facial expressions, are powerful motivators of human maternal behavior, activating dopamine-associated brain reward circuits. Oxytocin, a neurohormone attachment, promotes care in animals, although its role behavior is unclear. We examined 30 first-time new mothers to test whether differences based on the Adult Attachment Interview, were related and peripheral oxytocin response infant cues. On viewing their own infant's faces during functional MRI scanning, with secure attachment showed greater activation regions, including ventral striatum, oxytocin-associated hypothalamus/pituitary region. Peripheral contact at 7 months was also significantly higher mothers, positively correlated both regions. Insecure/dismissing insular sad faces. These results suggest that individual may be linked development dopaminergic oxytocinergic neuroendocrine systems.