Some Parental Contributions to the Development of Species-typical Behaviors

Abstract This chapter describes several intensive studies of how parental care influences offspring development. The studies include the role of previous experience in mammalian reproduction, how maternal care affects the sexual differentiation of copulatory behavior in rats, how maternal care affects the development of the regulation of the hormonal responses to stress-inducing conditions in rats, and finally how male and female parental care affects the mating behavior of prairie voles. These studies demonstrate how the experiences of the parents in adjusting to changes in their habitat can be passed down to the offspring, permitting them to be better adapted to that habitat.