Research Begun at NYS Psychiatric Inst. Sheds Light on Infant Learning

(October 27, 2009)  When do you first leave the nest? Early in development infants of many species experience important transitions -- such as learning when to leave the protective presence of their mother to start exploring the wider world. Neuroscientists have now pinpointed molecular events occurring in the brain during that turning point.

Based on animal studies, the findings may shed light on the strength of attachments in many species -- including the conundrum of why human children form strong attachments to even abusive caregivers...

The National Institutes of Health provided grant support for this study, for which Barr was the principal investigator and Sullivan was co-principal investigator. Barr began the study while at Hunter College and New York State Psychiatric Institute in New York City. Sullivan began the study at the University of Oklahoma, in Norman, Oklahoma.  

Read more at Reuters