Christell Becerra-Flores, Enver M. Oruro, Carlos Medina-Saldivar, Luis F. Pacheco-Otálora, Grace E. Pardo
{"title":"Postnatal Development of Chloride Cotransporters in the Piriform Cortex and Its Modulation by Early Maternal Care","authors":"Christell Becerra-Flores, Enver M. Oruro, Carlos Medina-Saldivar, Luis F. Pacheco-Otálora, Grace E. Pardo","doi":"10.1002/dev.70161","DOIUrl":"10.1002/dev.70161","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Early postnatal development is a sensitive period for inhibitory maturation, during which GABAergic signaling shifts from depolarizing to hyperpolarizing as a function of the chloride cotransporters KCC2 and NKCC1. Although these cotransporters are key to inhibitory development, little is known about how early caregiving influences their maturation in cortical circuits supporting attachment learning. We characterized KCC2 and NKCC1 expression in the piriform cortex (PC) of male and female rats from postnatal (P) Day 5 to 22 and assessed their sensitivity to altered caregiving using the limited bedding and nesting (LBN) paradigm (P2–P9). Both cotransporters showed robust postnatal protein upregulation, with sex-specific transcriptional differences for KCC2. At P15, LBN induced sex- and region-dependent changes. KCC2 transcription decreased in the anterior PC of males but increased in females in the posterior PC. NKCC1 protein was reduced in both sexes with distinct anterior–posterior patterns. Using a single-neuron Hodgkin–Huxley model with dynamic ion concentrations incorporating the measured cotransporter profiles, simulations indicated that these differences were sufficient to modify chloride homeostasis and shift GABAergic control of excitability. This multiscale approach links early alterations in caregiving to predicted functional consequences for inhibitory maturation in the PC.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":11086,"journal":{"name":"Developmental psychobiology","volume":"68 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147873670","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nícollas Costa Veloso, Jéssica Sena Gonçalves, Arthur Rocha-Gomes, Aline Cândida Ferreira, Leonara Teixeira Alves, Ana Carla Silva Rocha, Raiana Lage Coimbra, Alexandre Alves da Silva, Nísia Andrade Villela Dessimoni Pinto, Tania Regina Riul
{"title":"Sex-Dependent Effects of Maternal Caloric Restriction, but Not Intermittent Fasting, on Offspring Hippocampal Memory and Antioxidant Activity","authors":"Nícollas Costa Veloso, Jéssica Sena Gonçalves, Arthur Rocha-Gomes, Aline Cândida Ferreira, Leonara Teixeira Alves, Ana Carla Silva Rocha, Raiana Lage Coimbra, Alexandre Alves da Silva, Nísia Andrade Villela Dessimoni Pinto, Tania Regina Riul","doi":"10.1002/dev.70166","DOIUrl":"10.1002/dev.70166","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>During the lactation period, maternal malnutrition can lead the offspring to deficiencies in brain development and impact behavior throughout life. This study evaluated the effects of maternal dietary restrictions, caloric restriction (CR), and intermittent fasting (IF) during lactation on the memory and hippocampal redox state of the adolescent offspring (males and females). The litters (dam and 8 pups) received the diets: control—received the lab chow (Nuvilab CR-1) ad libitum, CR—received 50% of the chow consumed by the control group, and IF—received lab chow ad libitum for the first 24 h, followed by a 24-h period without access to food. In the adolescence period, the offspring (males and females) performed the novel object recognition test (NOR) for the evaluation of long-term memory. Subsequently, the redox state of the hippocampus was analyzed. Male offspring of the CR diet, but not females, showed memory impairments in the NOR test. Male and female offspring of the CR diet displayed higher activity of hippocampal SOD and GST enzymes, a result that may be related to a compensatory mechanism in an attempt to restore redox balance. In contrast, the IF diet did not lead to significant changes in memory and the hippocampus redox state.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":11086,"journal":{"name":"Developmental psychobiology","volume":"68 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147873679","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Annemieke M. Witte, Carolina Santos, Mirjana Majdandžić, Marinus H. van IJzendoorn, Marian J. Bakermans-Kranenburg
{"title":"Testosterone Levels, Challenging Parenting Behavior, and Protective Parenting Behavior: A Correlational Study Among First-Time Fathers in the First Year of Fatherhood","authors":"Annemieke M. Witte, Carolina Santos, Mirjana Majdandžić, Marinus H. van IJzendoorn, Marian J. Bakermans-Kranenburg","doi":"10.1002/dev.70160","DOIUrl":"10.1002/dev.70160","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Only few studies have examined whether testosterone levels are involved in parenting behaviors other than sensitivity and nurturing behavior. This preregistered study examined associations between fathers’ hair testosterone levels, challenging parenting behavior (CPB), and protective parenting. Seventy first-time partnered fathers with a healthy-born infant (<i>M</i> = 6.70 months, SD = 2.16) visited our research center for hormonal and behavioral assessments. Hair samples were collected to measure testosterone concentrations over the past month. CPB was observed during father–infant free play interaction and coded for the extent to which fathers verbally and physically challenged their infants to act outside their comfort zone. Paternal sensitivity was independently rated and analyzed exploratively. Protective parenting behavior was observed during the auditory startling task, which involved exposing the dyads to a short, unexpected loud sound. No significant correlations between fathers’ hair testosterone levels, CPB, and protective parenting emerged. Exploratory analyses (not preregistered) showed that fathers with lower testosterone levels were more sensitive. Future studies with larger and more diverse samples may benefit from incorporating multiple testosterone indices (e.g., hair, diurnal, and reactivity measures) to examine whether these indices are differentially related to CPB and protective parenting.</p>","PeriodicalId":11086,"journal":{"name":"Developmental psychobiology","volume":"68 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13155649/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147856092","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mábia B. Cera, Guilbert Araujo, Helena F. Lima, Mateus Oka, Vinícius Andrietta, Patrícia Izar
{"title":"Monkey Meltdowns: Do Tantrums Influence Maternal Investment in Bearded Capuchin Monkeys?","authors":"Mábia B. Cera, Guilbert Araujo, Helena F. Lima, Mateus Oka, Vinícius Andrietta, Patrícia Izar","doi":"10.1002/dev.70157","DOIUrl":"10.1002/dev.70157","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Tantrums are widely discussed in human development literature and are typically defined as displays of frustration or anger. In behavioral ecology, they are hypothesized to function as a strategy for securing greater maternal investment. Infant primates often exhibit tantrums when their attempts to obtain maternal care are rejected. We investigated whether these displays influence maternal investment in a wild population of capuchin monkeys (<i>Sapajus libidinosus</i>) at Fazenda Boa Vista, Brazil. We analyzed 213 h of footage of 12 infants filmed over their first 18 months of life using focal animal sampling and identified 550 infant solicitation events for nursing and transportation. Maternal rejection was rare (<i>N</i> = 47) but increased significantly with age. Infants displayed tantrums after most rejections (<i>N</i> = 31), but their occurrence did not vary significantly with age and had no significant effect on the likelihood of obtaining maternal care. Infant solicitations declined significantly with age, suggesting that maternal investment decreases as infants’ behavior changes. Our findings suggest that tantrums may reflect the challenges infants face during the transition to independence associated with weaning rather than an effective strategy for securing additional maternal care. By not reinforcing tantrums, mothers may facilitate infants’ gradual adjustment and shift toward greater independence.</p>","PeriodicalId":11086,"journal":{"name":"Developmental psychobiology","volume":"68 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13155812/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147856084","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kaylin E. Hill, Julia Garon-Bissonnette, McKenzie N. Greene, Emilia F. Cárdenas, Maya Jackson, Samantha Pegg, Kathryn L. Humphreys, Autumn Kujawa
{"title":"Associations Between New Mothers’ Neural Reward Response and Perceptions of Their Own Infant","authors":"Kaylin E. Hill, Julia Garon-Bissonnette, McKenzie N. Greene, Emilia F. Cárdenas, Maya Jackson, Samantha Pegg, Kathryn L. Humphreys, Autumn Kujawa","doi":"10.1002/dev.70164","DOIUrl":"10.1002/dev.70164","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Reward responsiveness is a key process in social motivation and may support important caregiver social processes such as caregiver perceptions of their infant. Reward responsiveness is commonly measured at the neural level via the reward positivity (RewP), an event-related potential derived from electroencephalogram (EEG), in both monetary and social domains. The current study examined whether and to what degree the RewP, in response to monetary and personally salient social reward feedback, relates to mothers’ perceptions of their infant during the early postpartum period (mean = 9.23 weeks post birth). Mothers (<i>N</i> = 91) completed two reward tasks while continuous EEG was recorded and provided descriptors of their infant's personality. The RewP was measured in response to a novel social incentive delay task (i.e., “winning” allowed participants to view a photo of their own infant) as well as a standard monetary incentive delay task. Both the social RewP and monetary RewP shared positive associations with mothers’ perceptions of their infant (social: <i>β =</i> 0.39, 95% CI [0.07, 0.71], <i>p</i> = 0.016; monetary: <i>β</i> = 0.39, 95% CI [0.07, 0.71], <i>p</i> = 0.017). Together, results suggest mothers’ neural motivational systems are related to how they perceive their child, with implications for understanding caregiver functioning and the caregiver–child relationship as context for child development.</p>","PeriodicalId":11086,"journal":{"name":"Developmental psychobiology","volume":"68 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13155177/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147834986","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Correlation of Neonatal Imitation and General Movements Assessment in Late Preterm Infants","authors":"Mürüvvet Elif Şimşir, Defne Engur, Canberk Yılmaz, Irem Zengi, Pinar Gencpinar, Anil Soykan, Nihal Olgac Dündar","doi":"10.1002/dev.70159","DOIUrl":"10.1002/dev.70159","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Neonatal imitation (NI) is a foundational marker of early social–cognitive development, yet its universality remains debated, particularly in non-WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic) populations and in infants at higher neurodevelopmental risk. This study examined NI in healthy late-preterm newborns, compared their responses with term infants, and explored the prognostic value of imitation using longitudinal Prechtl's General Movements Assessment (GMA). Twenty-three late-preterm and 27 term infants were tested within 72 h of birth for facial imitation using a blinded, counterbalanced protocol focusing on mouth opening (MO) and tongue protrusion (TP). Neurodevelopmental status was assessed using Prechtl's GMA at corrected ages of 5 and 11 weeks. Both groups exhibited significantly more TP gestures in response to the matching TP model (late-preterm: <i>p</i> = 0.002; term: <i>p</i> < 0.001), whereas MO responses did not differ significantly (<i>p</i> > 0.05). Imitative behavior was present from Day 1 (<i>p</i> = 0.005) and strengthened on Days 2–3 (<i>p</i> < 0.001). No significant sex differences were observed. NI scores did not significantly correlate with GMA outcomes (<i>p</i> > 0.05), likely reflecting the clinical homogeneity of this mostly healthy sample. Selective NI for TP emerges within the first days of life in both late preterm and term infants. By including a non-WEIRD population and late preterm infants, this study expands the generalizability of NI. Strengths include early assessment, blinded scoring, and standardized neurodevelopmental evaluation. NI appears robust across gestational age and sociocultural contexts, highlighting its potential as an early neurobehavioral marker. Further longitudinal research in diverse populations is warranted.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":11086,"journal":{"name":"Developmental psychobiology","volume":"68 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147835032","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}