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Maternal presence serves as a switch between learning fear and attraction in infancy

Nature Neuroscience volume 9, pages 1004–1006 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Odor-shock conditioning produces either olfactory preference or aversion in preweanling (12–15 days old) rats, depending on the context. In the mother's absence, odor-shock conditioning produces amygdala activation and learned odor avoidance. With maternal presence, this same conditioning yields an odor preference without amygdala activation. Maternal presence acts through modulation of pup corticosterone and corticosterone's regulation of amygdala activity. Over-riding maternal suppression of corticosterone through intra-amygdala corticosterone infusions permits fear conditioning and amygdala activation.

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Figure 1: Pup learning from odor-shock conditioning (0.5-mA shock) changes over development and is influenced by maternal (anesthetized) presence.
Figure 2: Maternal presence activates a non–amygdala dependent odor-shock circuit and yields odor preference.
Figure 3: Assessment of the association between corticosterone, learning and the amygdala.

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Acknowledgements

Supported by grants to R.M.S. from the US National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (HD33402), the US National Science Foundation (IOB0544406) and the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology; and by funds to S.M. from the University of Oklahoma.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, 73019, Oklahoma, USA

    Stephanie Moriceau & Regina M Sullivan

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  1. Stephanie Moriceau
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  2. Regina M Sullivan
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Correspondence to Regina M Sullivan.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Supplementary information

Supplementary Fig. 1

Cortical, medial and central amygdala nuclei activity during ordor-shock acquisition was assessed by relative C14 2-DG uptake with and without maternal presence. (PDF 1519 kb)

Supplementary Fig. 2

(Top) Pseudocolor autoradiograph of C14 2-DG uptake in a 12 day old during odor-shock training overlayed on a dark-field image of the same section stained with cresyl violet. (PDF 5285 kb)

Supplementary Fig. 3

Locations of cannula tips (solid circles) in rats used for muscimol infusion into the amygdala. (PDF 10902 kb)

Supplementary Fig. 4

Corticosterone diffusion within the amygdala. (PDF 14908 kb)

Supplementary Methods (PDF 108 kb)

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Moriceau, S., Sullivan, R. Maternal presence serves as a switch between learning fear and attraction in infancy. Nat Neurosci 9, 1004–1006 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/nn1733

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