Date of Award
Spring 6-5-2015
Document Type
Honors Project
University Scholars Director
Dr. Jeff Keuss
First Advisor/Committee Member
Dr. Janet Bester-Meredith
Second Advisor/Committee Member
Dr. Elena Brezynski
Keywords
vasopressin, maternal behavior, aggression, Peromyscus, infanticide
Abstract
Research studies since the 1950s have shown that a chemical within the brain called arginine vasopressin (AVP) is associated with the modulation of many different social behaviors in mammals. Some of these behaviors are related to parenting, such as parental care initiation, aggression, social recognition, depression and anxiety. Understanding the physiology behind AVP regulation could allow for the creation of new therapies for treating human social disorders, such as using an AVP receptor antagonist to attenuate anxiety. This project examines how neural injections of AVP and an AVP receptor antagonist affect both maternal care and aggression in female Peromyscus californicus. Though not yet statistically significant, the data suggest that administration of AVP lessens maternal behavior.
Recommended Citation
Ng, Nathaniel, "The Effects of Arginine Vasopressin on Maternal Behavior and Aggression in Peromyscus californicus Mothers" (2015). Honors Projects. 31.
https://digitalcommons.spu.edu/honorsprojects/31
Copyright Status
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Additional Rights Information
Copyright held by author.
Included in
Animal Studies Commons, Behavioral Neurobiology Commons, Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms Commons, Biology Commons, Endocrinology Commons, Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists Commons
Comments
A project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the University Scholars Program.