Birthing parents' neural response to infant cry: moderating effects of oxytocin and perceived childhood care.

ABSTRACT: Individuals who perceive the caregiving they received from their parents as more caring tend to bond better with their infants and show more sensitive parenting behaviors. Early caregiving experiences are also related to differences in the functions of hormonal systems, including the oxytocinergic system. The current study examined how perceptions of childhood maternal care relate to parenting behaviors, oxytocin levels, and neural responses to infant stimuli. Perceived childhood maternal care was measured using the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) for 54 first-time birthing parents. Salivary oxytocin and observations of parenting behaviors were assessed during parent-infant play at 3.5 months postpartum. Neural activation while listening to infant cry was measured with fMRI. More positiv

SUBMITTER: Grande LA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11804881 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature