Flashcards on Neuroscience of Parental Behavior
Neuroscience of Parental Behavior: Hormones, Brain, & Care
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Reproductive and Parental Behavior in Rodents
20 cards
Card 1
Question: What sensory requirements are important for pregnancy induction in rodents?
Answer: Vaginocervical stimulation (VCS) from tactile stimulation of the cervix; stimulation distributed in time is more effective than massed stimulation.
Card 2
Question: What is the proposed “vaginal code” in rodents?
Answer: A link between specific patterns of vaginocervical stimulation and the induction of pregnancy.
Card 3
Question: What is the Shafik reflex and its role in pregnancy?
Answer: A reflex where tactile stimulation of the cervix causes the cervix to dip and 'suck' sperm into the uterus via peristalsis and induces peristaltic mov
Card 4
Question: How does the timing of vaginocervical stimulation affect pregnancy induction?
Answer: Paced or distributed stimulation over time is more effective at inducing pregnancy than massed (concentrated) stimulation.
Card 5
Question: What physical aid besides stimulation contributes to successful fertilization in rodents?
Answer: A tightly fitting sperm plug containing about 150,000,000 sperm.
Card 6
Question: How many pathways to pregnancy are noted in the content?
Answer: Two pathways to pregnancy.
Card 7
Question: What are the characteristics of newborn rat pups?
Answer: Born with eyes closed, no hair, and totally unable to urinate or defecate without anogenital stimulation.
Card 8
Question: How much milk does a dam produce and what percentage of her body weight does this represent?
Answer: About 48 g of milk per day, roughly 15% of her body weight.
Card 9
Question: How does a dam recover lost fluid after nursing?
Answer: By drinking the urine of her pups, recovering about 60% of her lost fluid.
Card 10
Question: What two things are required for maternal care in rodents?
Answer: Sensory stimulation from pups and hormonal priming.