title: Memory of early maltreatment: neonatal behavioral and neural correlates of maternal maltreatment within the context of classical conditioning.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  While children form an attachment to their abusive caregiver, they are susceptible to mental illness and brain abnormalities. To understand this important clinical issue, we have developed a rat animal model of abusive attachment where odor paired with shock paradoxically produces an odor preference. Here, we extend this model to a seminaturalistic paradigm using a stressed, "abusive" mother during an odor presentation and assess the underlying learning neural circuit.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a classical conditioning paradigm pairing a novel odor with a stressed mother that predominantly abused pups to assess olfactory learning in a seminaturalistic environment. Additionally, we used Fos protein immunohistochemistry to assess brain areas involved in learning this pain-induced odor preference within a more controlled maltreatment environment (odor-shock conditioning).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Odor-maternal maltreatment pairings within a seminatural setting and odor-shock pairings both resulted in paradoxical odor preferences. Learning-induced gene expression was altered in the olfactory bulb and anterior piriform cortex (part of olfactory cortex) but not the amygdala.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infants appear to use a unique brain circuit that optimizes learned odor preferences necessary for attachment. A fuller understanding of infant brain function may provide insight into why early maltreatment affects psychiatric well-being.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, USA. Tania.L.Conner-1@ou.edu
authors.forename: Tania L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: Regina M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Sullivan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D003214:Conditioning, Classical / Q000502:physiology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004597:Electroshock; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000502:physiology; D008568:Memory; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology; D009812:Odorants; D016761:Oncogene Proteins v-fos / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans
chemical_list: D016761:Oncogene Proteins v-fos