The hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis is a complex system of neuroendocrine pathways
and feedback loops that function to maintain physiological homeostasis. Abnormal …

The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) is a center of integration for limbic information
and valence monitoring. The BNST, sometimes referred to as the extended amygdala, is …

Abstract Development is a dynamic process that involves interplay between genes and the
environment. In mammals, the quality of the postnatal environment is shaped by parent …

Animal studies have demonstrated that the neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) plays a critical role in
processes of parent–infant bonding through mechanisms of early parental care, particularly …

In recent decades, human sociocultural changes have increased the numbers of fathers that
are involved in direct caregiving in Western societies. This trend has led to a resurgence of …

Modern evolutionary biology is founded on the Mendelian-genetic model of inheritance, but
it is now clear that this model is incomplete. Empirical evidence shows that environment …

Vasopressin (Avp) is mainly synthesized in the magnocellular cells of the hypothalamic
supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular nuclei (PVN) whose axons project to the posterior …

Maternal effects are now universally recognised as a form of nongenetic parental influence
on offspring but, until recently, paternal effects were regarded as an anomaly. Although it is …

Borderline personality disorder is characterized by affective instability, impulsivity, identity
diffusion, and interpersonal dysfunction. Perceived rejection and loss often serve as triggers …

Abstract Arginine-vasotocin (AVT)/arginine vasopressin (AVP) are members of the
AVP/oxytocin (OT) superfamily of peptides that are involved in the regulation of social …