Infant calming responses during maternal carrying in humans and mice

Mother-infant bonding is the earliest and most critical social relationship of mammalian infants, one that is promoted by an infant's innate desire to be close to his or her mother (as demonstrated by protesting on separation). Little is known about the mechanisms underlying these behaviors. Esposito, Yoshida, and colleagues have found that both human infants and mouse pups undergo a specific relaxation response to being carried by their mothers, reducing crying, movement, and heart rate.