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Neuroendocrine Mechanisms of Social Bonds and Separation Stress in Rodents, Dogs, and Other Species

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Neuroscience of Social Stress

Part of the book series: Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences ((CTBN,volume 54))

Abstract

Mammalian species form unique bonds between mothers and infants. Maternal care, including suckling, is necessary for infant survival, and the mother and, sometimes, the father require a lot of effort in nurturing infants. An infant’s probability of survival depends on the extent of the investment of care by the mother. In parallel, mothers must identify their offspring and invest only in those who possess their genes to achieve evolutionary benefits. Therefore, they need to recognize their offspring and show a strong preference for them. For this reason, bond formation between mothers and infants is important. The mother monitors her offspring’s physical condition and stays close to them. The offspring also form strong bonds with their mothers. Therefore, a separation between the mother and infant causes severe stress for both parties. Although it was initially thought that such bonds between mother and infant are limited to the same species, we have also observed a similar phenomenon in the human–dog relationship. In this article, we discuss the neuroendocrine mechanisms that underlie bond formation and separation based on findings of neurobiological research in mice and the relationship between humans and dogs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Human and Animal Symbiosis Science, Azabu University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan

    Miho Nagasawa & Takefumi Kikusui

  2. School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan

    Miho Nagasawa & Takefumi Kikusui

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  1. Miho Nagasawa
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  2. Takefumi Kikusui
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Correspondence to Takefumi Kikusui .

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  1. Department of Psychology, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA

    Klaus A. Miczek

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Yale Stress Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA

    Rajita Sinha

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Nagasawa, M., Kikusui, T. (2021). Neuroendocrine Mechanisms of Social Bonds and Separation Stress in Rodents, Dogs, and Other Species. In: Miczek, K.A., Sinha, R. (eds) Neuroscience of Social Stress. Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences, vol 54. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/7854_2021_257

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