Development of the Parental Brain in Humans

Chapter 10 deals with the development of the parental brain in humans, emphasizing experiential influences on the intergenerational continuity of maternal behavior: A history of experiencing childhood maltreatment (CMT; maternal neglect and/or abuse) is associated with alterations in the development of the child’s parental brain, which may lead to subsequent deficits in its maternal behavior. The manner in which parents treat their children may affect the development of neural systems (a) that regulate emotionality, with poor parental care resulting in deficits in emotion regulation, and (b) that underpin maternal motivation, love, and empathy, with poor parental care decreasing these processes. Alterations in the development of medial prefrontal cortex, amygdala, mesolimbic dopamine, oxytocin, corticotropin-releasing factor, and serotonin neural systems are involved, as are epigenetic effects. Not all mothers who experience CMT become poor mothers, and the involvement of gene by environment interactions are highlighted.