Mission: to bring together basic and clinical researchers using state of the art scientific approaches to examine the role of the central nervous system in both maternal and paternal care. Normal parental behavior and maladaptive responses during the critical periods associated with raising offspring will be explored.

Basic underlying mechanisms that regulate the adaptations of the maternal and paternal brain towards parenting will be one central focus of the meeting. Translational aspects of the conference will constitute a second key component of the program. Issues related to postpartum mood disorders, such as postpartum depression, anxiety and aggression in women, and inadequate parental bonding to infants, will be discussed in an effort to bridge the gap between the basic and clinical sciences on these crucial topics and to advance our understanding of women’s and men’s health issues.

Keynote Lecture: David Rubinow, M.D., "Mood Disorders of Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period"

Plenary Talk: Sarah Blaffer Hrdy, Ph.D., "Mothers and Others: The Evolutionary Context of Human Development"

Symposia:

• Neural Systems & Maternal Behavior
• Maternal Aggression, Stress & Anxiety/Depression
• Neuropeptide Regulation and Actions during Pregnancy and Lactation
• The Energetics of Motherhood
• Individual Variations in Maternal Behavior: from Genes to Experience
• Alternate Patterns of Parental Care
• Biparental Care: Neural and Physiological Mechanisms
• Neuroplasticity & Reproductive Experience

Click here for Program Schedule Overview*

Click here for Program Schedule Detail *

Poster Sessions: Maternal & Paternal Neurobiology

Poster Specifications:  The size of the poster boards is 4’ high x 6’ wide (~120 cm x 180 cm).  Your poster should fit within these dimensions.  Tacks will be provided to attach the posters to the boards.

Early Registration Deadline: April 1, 2007

• PBC Flyer*
• Registration Form*
• Abstract Submission Form* Poster Abstract Submission Deadline has been EXTENDED to Thursday, April 19, 2007

Housing: Hilton Boston Back Bay is SOLD OUT. Contact the Office of Continuing Education for more information.

Contact: The Office of Continuing Education/Conference Planning
200 Westboro Road
North Grafton, MA 01536
Phone: 508-887-4723
Email: vetCEinfo@tufts.edu

Support:

This meeting on "Parenting and the Brain" was generously supported
in part by a conference grant from the NIMH, NIDA and NICHD

- PHS Award #R13MH080562.