RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Shows Oxytocin Activates Brain Regions Associated with Mother–Pup Bonding during Suckling JF The Journal of Neuroscience JO J. Neurosci. FD Society for Neuroscience SP 11637 OP 11644 DO 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3604-05.2005 VO 25 IS 50 A1 Marcelo Febo A1 Michael Numan A1 Craig F. Ferris YR 2005 UL http://www.jneurosci.org/content/25/50/11637.abstract AB Oxytocin is released in the maternal brain during breastfeeding and may help strengthen the mother–infant relationship. Here, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to determine whether oxytocin modulates brain activity in postpartum day 4–8 dams receiving suckling stimulation. During imaging sessions, dams were exposed to pup suckling before and after administration of an oxytocin receptor antagonist. Another group of dams received oxytocin alone. Changes in brain activation in response to suckling closely matched that elicited by oxytocin administration. The overlapping brain areas included the olfactory system, nucleus accumbens, insular cortex, prefrontal cortex, ventral tegmental area, cortical amygdala, and several cortical and hypothalamic nuclei. Blockade of oxytocin receptors largely attenuated activation in these regions. The data suggest that oxytocin may strengthen mother–infant bond formation partly by acting through brain areas involved in regulating olfactory discrimination, emotions, and reward.