Neural plasticity supporting parenthood

At birth, the young is the helpless and vulnerable. To ensure their survival, adult animals engage in intense parental care behaviors. Furthermore, lactating females exhibit a dramatic increase in aggression towards intruders, known as maternal aggression. However, attack is costly and risky. When pups no longer exist, maternal aggression rapidly declines. In this talk, I will share our recent study on the neural mechanisms that support pup caring and protecting behaviors, as well as the multifaceted plasticity in the aggression circuit underlying the rise and fall of maternal aggression.