title: EEG signs of "relaxation behavior" during breast-feeding in a nursing woman.
abstract: The presence of electroencephalographic signs of "relaxation behavior"; i.e., groups of synchronic, 6-10 Hz, 100-150 microV EEG waves mainly appearing in parieto-occipital regions, have been investigated in a nursing woman during breast-feeding. EEG was recorded once a week from right and left frontal-central, central-parietal, parietal-temporal and parietal-occipital derivations of the mother during breast-feeding of her own child throughout 16 weeks of nursing (from the 4th to the 20th week after delivery). Groups of synchronic 6-10 Hz, 100-150 microV EEG waves were recorded in central-parietal and parietal-temporal derivations, 15-80 sec after starting of suckling of either breast. Proportions of this synchronic EEG activity ranged between 5 to 28% in the central-parietal and 6 to 22% in the parietal-temporal derivations, and significantly higher proportions were found in the right hemisphere. Similarities between EEG signs of "relaxation behavior" elicited by suckling in nursing cats and those elicited by suckling in a nursing woman lead to the possibility that the above described EEG phenomena are an expression of a functional state of the central nervous system which is a part of the integral response involved in the consummatory activity of nursing behavior in women.
authors.affiliation: División de Farmacología, Unidad de Investigación Biomédica, Centro Médico Nacional, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, México, D.F.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cervantes
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ruelas
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Alcalá
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D012063:Relaxation / Q000502:physiology*