Why mother rats protect their children

Elife. 2017 Jun 13:6:e28514. doi: 10.7554/eLife.28514.

Abstract

The presence of the hormone oxytocin in the central amygdala makes a mother rat willing to put her life in danger in order to protect her offspring.

Keywords: freezing; learning; maternal behavior; neuroscience; rat; social interactions.

Publication types

  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Central Amygdaloid Nucleus*
  • Child
  • Female
  • Freezing
  • Humans
  • Maternal Behavior
  • Mothers
  • Oxytocin*
  • Rats

Substances

  • Oxytocin