title: Parental behaviors in rats and mice.
abstract: Parental care in mammals is often critical for survival and development of the offspring. The multiple behaviors that comprise parental care in rats and mice are controlled by a complex array of factors. This unit describes the components of parental care in rats and mice and the frequently used methods to assess the performance of these behaviors, a subject's preference for pup-related cues, as well as a subject's motivation to act parentally.
authors.affiliation: University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lonstein
authors.forename: Alison S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Fleming
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D051379:Mice; D009425:Nesting Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D010332:Paternal Behavior; D051381:Rats