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Scientists in Israel have identified the hormone oxytocin as a key factor in shaping how young brains respond to parental separation, offering new insights into early emotional development.
Researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science developed a noninvasive method to temporarily silence specific brain cells in mouse pups without affecting their natural behaviour.
The team used this technique to explore how oxytocin activity influences the way young animals cope with separation from their mothers.
Oxytocin, often called the ‘love hormone’ for its role in social bonding, has been extensively studied in adults.
This research, however, shows it also plays a critical role in the emotional behaviour of infants.
Mouse pups with active oxytocin systems adapted more quickly during temporary separation, crying less than those whose oxytocin pathways were deactivated, who continued to emit distress calls until reunited with their mothers.
Published in the journal ‘Science’, the study also revealed that oxytocin affects behaviour after reunion.
Pups with active oxytocin systems produced unique vocal patterns indicating a desire for closeness, followed by calm behaviour.
The research highlighted early differences between sexes, with female pups more sensitive to changes in oxytocin activity, suggesting that emotional development may start diverging between males and females earlier than previously understood.
The scientists emphasised that the findings provide a deeper understanding of how early life experiences and brain chemistry influence social and emotional development.
The study may also provide valuable insights for future research into conditions such as autism, which can disrupt these processes.
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