Pup suckling is more rewarding than cocaine: evidence from functional magnetic resonance imaging and three-dimensional computational analysis.
Nursing has reciprocal benefits for both mother and infant, helping to promote maternal behavior and bonding. To test the "rewarding" nature of nursing, functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to map brain activity in lactating dams exposed to their suckling pups versus cocaine. Suckling stimulation in lactating dams and cocaine exposure in virgin females activated the dopamine reward system. In contrast, lactating dams exposed to cocaine instead of pups showed a suppression of brain activity in the reward system. These data support the notion that pup stimulation is more reinforcing than cocaine, underscoring the importance of pup seeking over other rewarding stimuli during lactation.
Ferris
Craig F
CF
Center for Comparative Neuroimaging, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01655, USA. craig.ferris@umassmed.edu
Kulkarni
Praveen
P
Sullivan
John M
JM
Harder
Josie A
JA
Messenger
Tara L
TL
Febo
Marcelo
M
D000818:Animals; D000833:Animals, Suckling; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003042:Cocaine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012201:Reward; D013997:Time Factors
D003042:Cocaine; D004298:Dopamine