I have always thought that the so called "Maternal instinct" was something that few mothers could develop. Maybe is something that every female have, even in the animal kingdom.
The Rockefeller University's researchers in New York have tested the maternal behaviour in mice. They divided a large number of mice in half; the first group got lowered the chemical located in an especific region of the brain, medial preptic area, responsible for the protective care, sexual behavior and aggression, where there are high levels of oestrogen. The second group was being observed with the normal levels of the chemical in the especific group of neurons.
The engineered group, changed the "maternal" behaviour automatically, this is, the licking, nursing and protection from the female mice to their pups were almost zero. The results were especific to the maternal/sexual behavior gene since no other behaviour, such as sexual receptivity or aggression, changed during the experiment.The other group remain intanct, as evidence that the "maternal behavior" is directly related to the gene that is responsible for protecting, caring and nursing their pups.
This experiment can aboslutely show us that the maternal care and nursing in mice can be applied to other species, even in humans since it gives the opportunity to experiment with humans, and provide the prescriptions of chemicals to enchance the maternal care.
What happens in those cases where mothers do not care about ther children? Is it possible to generalize this evidence to the human behavior?
I really liked the topic you exposed, but I’m not completely convinced if this evidence could be applied to human beings, given that mice and humans are different.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, I would like to say that I have experience working with children who are abandoned by their parents and let me tell you I have two visions of this kind of situation. I think it could be the worst thing a human being can do, or the most generous thing a human being can do.
I'm sorry, Sergio, but questions assaulted me when I took a look at your comment.
DeleteGenerous? In what way? In the way they could not have means of having their children as equipped with stuff as they might want?
I didn’t consider your idea and I’m sure that it could be a reason for most of them, but I’m not entirely convinced if it’s a justification; I would need to be on their position to really understand it.
DeleteAbout the comment I made, I’m just pointing out to the situation that children suffer more when certain kind of parents are around, especially the ones who have problems with the law, because they grow up in an environment surrounded by violence and injustice – and I think it’s not fair for them.
These children really deserve to be raised by someone who can love them, and if their biological parents are not going to do it; it could do it someone else, someone who really wants it.
Loreto: Interesting post.
ReplyDeleteI can even see a positive side of it, and that is that if a special part or membrane or chemical is the responsible for the care humans and animals show towards their children or pupils, it could be the solution for parents who abandon their children: they could be submitted to experiments in order to have that chemical levels raised and have themselves caring for their children...no kids would be in asylums.
Interesting. But what happens if every children start getting the levels of the chemical raised? It wouldn't be natural! And this could definitely lead to a new generation of androids kind of families.
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ReplyDeleteWhile maternal behavior is obviously related to a gene, I think you can't only consider genotype as an influence in our behavior, you must also take into account what we get from the environment that surrounds us. Many mothers who don't care about their children have a bond disorder. They are people whose psychopathology personality structure is combined with failures in the development of a safe bond from their own experiences, so they can't form a bond with their children. I think this starts from the moment in which a mother has her child in the womb, if it wasn't a desired pregnancy the mother may have difficulty establishing a deep connection or love with her child, and that's one of the most important relationships in a human’s life.