ABSTRACT In virgin female rats, the continuous presence of pups causes them to express typical maternal behaviors, a process known as maternal sensitization. Previous experience with pups accelerates maternal sensitization. It is also known that in primiparous rats, enriched environment (EE) increases the expression of maternal behaviors. Here, we investigated whether experience, other than pup exposure, affects the process of maternal sensitization and hypothesized that EE increases the expression of maternal behaviors and maternal motivation in virgin rats. Virgin adult females were housed in standard conditions or physical and social EE for 21 days. Then, females were exposed daily to pups until they expressed full maternal behaviors. Thereafter, females performed pup preference, pup motivation in a novel context, and resident‐intruder tests. We found that initial pup rejection was higher in EE rats, but eventually, both groups became maternally sensitized simultaneously. The frequency and duration of pup licking were higher in EE rats. In the other tests, EE rats exhibited more entries to the open arms, retrieved more pups toward the closed arms, and were more aggressive towards an intruder. We conclude that housing in a social EE modulates aspects of the pup‐induced maternal sensitization, particularly increasing pup licking and motivation in both familiar and novel circumstances.

Mauricio A. Núñez‐Murrieta

Esmeralda Rendón‐Candanedo

Diana Angeles‐Torres

Paula Noguez

Genaro A. Coria‐Avila

Victoria E. Bolado‐García

Aleph A. Corona‐Morales

Developmental Psychobiology

DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOBIOLOGY 是一份同行评审期刊，发表来自心理学、生物学、神经科学和医学学科的原创研究论文，有助于理解行为发展。侧重于胚胎/胎儿、新生儿、幼年或成年动物发育的研究以及将行为发育与解剖学、生理学、生物化学、遗传学或进化相关联的多学科研究是合适的。该杂志通过发表对无脊椎动物、鱼类、鸟类、人类和其他动物的研究，代表了关于行为发展的广泛系统发育观点。该杂志发表无论是在实验室还是在现场进行的实验和描述性研究。该杂志还发表评论文章和理论论文，这些文章做出了重要的概念贡献。发展心理生物学的特别专刊，包括关于普遍感兴趣的主题的受邀论文，可以与主编安排。发展心理生物学还出版致编辑的信函，讨论普遍感兴趣的问题或发表在期刊上的材料.讨论已发表材料的信件可能会纠正错误、提供澄清或提供不同的观点。作者应就这些文稿的准备工作咨询编辑。

Developmental Psychobiology is a peer-reviewed journal that publishes original research papers from the fields of psychology, biology, neuroscience, and medicine, contributing to the understanding of behavioral development. The journal focuses on research related to the development of embryos, fetuses, neonates, juveniles, and adult animals, as well as multidisciplinary studies that link behavioral development with anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, genetics, or evolution. By publishing research on invertebrates, fish, birds, humans, and other animals, the journal represents a broad phylogenetic perspective on behavioral development. It accepts experimental and descriptive studies conducted both in laboratories and in the field, and also welcomes commentaries and theoretical papers that make significant conceptual contributions. Special issues on developmental psychobiology, including invited papers on topics of general interest, can be arranged with the editor-in-chief. Additionally, Developmental Psychobiology publishes letters to the editor that discuss issues of general interest or provide feedback on materials published in the journal. These letters may correct errors, offer clarifications, or present alternative viewpoints, and authors should consult the editor regarding the preparation of these manuscripts.

《Developmental Psychobiology》是一本经过同行评审的期刊，发表来自心理学、生物学、神经科学和医学领域的原创研究论文，旨在深入理解行为的发展。期刊特别关注胚胎、胎儿、新生儿、幼年及成年动物的发育研究，以及将行为发育与解剖学、生理学、生物化学、遗传学或进化等多学科领域相结合的研究。该期刊通过发表对无脊椎动物、鱼类、鸟类、人类及其他动物的研究，展现了关于行为发展的广泛系统发育视角。期刊接受在实验室或现场进行的实验和描述性研究，同时也欢迎重要概念贡献的评论文章和理论论文。关于发展心理生物学的特别专刊，包括受邀论文，需与主编进行安排。此外，《Developmental Psychobiology》还出版致编辑的信函，讨论普遍感兴趣的问题或对已发表材料的反馈。这些信件可能纠正错误、提供澄清或提出不同观点，作者应咨询编辑以准备这些文稿。

Category	Quartile
心理学	4
心理学, 发育生物学	3
心理学, 心理学	4

Maternal Sensitization in Virgin Female Rats: Behavioral Effects of Enriched Environment

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