Social Influences on Endocrine and Behavioral Responses During Development

Wright State University, Dayton OH

Investigators

Abstract

In infants of primate and other mammalian species, the presence of the mother, but not another familiar animal, can prevent or reduce hormonal stress responses to threatening conditions. This selective capacity of the mother to reduce stress responses seems to disappear after puberty, but other companions may attain this ability at about the same time. These normal developmental changes may influence social grouping patterns of the species and have implications for understanding how humans cope with stressful conditions. Many of the relations between stress hormones, social partners, and behavior, observed in primates, have also been observed in guinea pigs. Therefore, guinea pigs are the subjects of these initial experiments. Proposed studies will: (1) document in detail changes that occur from infancy to adulthood in the ability of various classes of social companions to reduce hormonal stress responses; (2) examine how these changes correlate with developmental changes in behavior and social grouping tendencies; and, (3) determine if these developmental changes are due to rising levels of gonadal hormones at the time of puberty. Hormones have a huge impact on behavior and its development from infancy to adulthood. Puberty is the time of the most dramatic hormonal changes of all postnatal life. Yet with the exception of sexual behavior itself, surprisingly little is known about the effects of hormones on behavior during this important period. Proposed studies will provide basic information on how hormones of puberty influence the ability of social partners to moderate stress hormones and organize social behavior. Results will be of value to researchers examining how social support reduces various stress-related physiological responses at different portions of the life span. The proposed work will also further science education by involving undergraduate students planning careers in neuroscience.