Roth Tania L, Sullivan Regina M
Department of Zoology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA.
Dev Psychobiol. 2006 Jan;48(1):71-8. doi: 10.1002/dev.20107.
Maternal touch profoundly regulates infant neural and behavioral development, and supports learned odor associations necessary for infant attachment. Endogenous opioids are well characterized to mediate the calming and analgesic properties of maternal touch; yet their role in learned odor-touch associations is unknown. We administered naltrexone, an opioid receptor antagonist, before or immediately following classical conditioning with peppermint odor and tactile stimulation (stroking) in rat neonates. Results indicate odor-stroke conditioning produces odor preferences facilitated by endogenous opioids during acquisition and memory consolidation. These results provide additional evidence for the modulatory role of opioids in neonate learning and memory. Disturbances to this system may alter the impact of touch on infant development, particularly in the realm of learning necessary for attachment.
母体触摸能深刻调节婴儿的神经和行为发育,并支持婴儿依恋所必需的习得性气味联想。内源性阿片类物质在介导母体触摸的镇静和镇痛特性方面已得到充分表征;然而,它们在习得性气味 - 触摸联想中的作用尚不清楚。我们在对新生大鼠进行薄荷气味与触觉刺激(抚摸)的经典条件反射之前或之后立即给予阿片受体拮抗剂纳曲酮。结果表明,气味 - 抚摸条件反射在习得和记忆巩固过程中产生了由内源性阿片类物质促进的气味偏好。这些结果为阿片类物质在新生儿学习和记忆中的调节作用提供了额外证据。该系统的紊乱可能会改变触摸对婴儿发育的影响,特别是在依恋所需的学习领域。