Nicole Cameron

Binghamton University

Mother’s Touch: A Source of Individual Variation in Daughter’s Reproduction

April 16, 2012
AAG008 5:00 pm

Abstract

Maternal behavior has an important influence on the development of the young. From insects to mammals it has been shown to influence sexual behavior of offspring. In humans, the quality of the mother-daughter relationship is a predictor of the onset of puberty and sexual behavior. We will discuss the importance of individual differences in reproductive strategy in rats and we will examine the mechanisms that may control the maternal influence on daughter’s sexuality.

Biography

Nicole Cameron is currently assistant professor of psychology at Binghamton University. She received a PhD from Boston University and specializes in behavioral neuroscience, with special interest in neuroendocrinology, female reproductive function, maternal care, and sexual behavior. Her research focuses mainly on neuroendocrine functions; using infusions of drugs in discrete brain areas controlling reproductive functions and sexual behaviors and monitoring gonadal hormones released under different conditions. This research is critical in defining the causal role of parental care in female development. She is the recipient of multiple awards from the International Behavioral Neuroscience Society and the current recipient of the Dean’s Research Award.

Readings

• Cameron N, Del Corpo A, Diorio J, McAllister K, Sharma S, et al. (2008) Maternal Programming of Sexual Behavior and Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal Function in the Female Rat. PLoS ONE 3(5): e2210. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0002210 [pdf]
• Cameron, Nicole. (2011) Maternal Programming of Reproductive Function and Behavior in the Female Rat [pdf]