Lay summary
Healthy mother-infant interactions are critically important for a child’s development. We have previously reported that the pituitary hormone prolactin plays a critical role in promoting care-giving behaviour in mothers, however, the underlying mechanism is unknown. The aim of this project is to determine how prolactin alters the activity of neurons that drive mood and behavioural changes in mothers. We will use recent technical developments in neuroscience to enable real-time recording of activity of prolactin-sensitive neurons during interactions with offspring. Maternal obesity is associated with an increased risk in developing a range of pregnancy complications, including postpartum mood disorders, and is also one of the primary causes of reduced prolactin signalling during pregnancy. Therefore, we will also investigate how obesity affects the activity of key populations of prolactin-sensitive neurons that regulate a mother’s behaviour during pregnancy and lactation.