Figure 1.

The lateralization of maternal behavior by oxytocin signaling. (A) PVN oxytocin neurons project to bilateral auditory cortex. In left auditory cortex there are more oxytocin receptor expressing neurons, including many interneurons. (B) The oxytocin release from axon terminals shut down the interneurons and disinhibits the cortical principal neurons. (C) Left shows the paradigm of in vivo patch clamp recording from the left auditory cortex of female dam/virgin mouse when pup call cue is given. Right shows that dam rather than female virgin respond to the pup call both at physiological and behavioral level. The retrieval training experience tuned the cortical neurons to be responsive to pup calls as well.