Abstract—Oxytocin is an important neuropeptide hormone that affects maternal behaviors such as childbirth, lactation, and childcare after birth. An infant’s cry has been shown to elevate oxytocin levels in new mothers. Using in vivo electrophysiological recordings and optogenetics studies, the researcher found that the Posterior Intralaminar Thalamus (PIL) is responsible for the input into oxytocin neurons in response to the cries of pups. Repeated stimulation of this thalamic region led to a sustained decrease in the inhibition of oxytocin neurons, allowing prolonged activation of oxytocin neurons even after pup cries ended. This long-term depression of inhibitory inputs to oxytocin neurons was mediated by postsynaptic N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors and dynamin intracellular signalling. Moreover, this paper shows that the Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA) was the main downstream target of oxytocin released from Paraventricular Nucleus (PVN), and directly affecting maternal behaviors as assessed by pup retrieval experiments. This offers a mechanism for incorporating auditory cues from the offspring into maternal endocrine networks, thereby preparing maternal brains for effective parenting, which provides new insights into the biological basis of parenting and could potentially lead to new treatments for social behavior deficits and oxytocin deficits. Further, this circuit may help illuminate the mechanisms underlying a broader range of maternal and social behaviors sustained in response to different sensory cues. 
 

Keywords—neuromodulation, maternal behaviors, oxytocin, pup cries

Cite: Yizhu Chu, "Neuromodulation of Maternal Behaviors: Unraveling the Neural Pathway Routing Auditory Cues to Oxytocin Neurons," International Journal of Pharma Medicine and Biological Sciences, Vol. 14, No. 2, pp. 51-56, 2025.

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