The maternal behavior decline is important for the normal development of the young and the wellbeing of the mother. This paper reviews limited research on the factors and mechanisms involved in the rat maternal behavior decline and proposes a multi-level model. Framed in the parent-offspring conflict theory (an ultimate cause) and the approach-withdrawal model (a proximate cause), the maternal behavior decline is viewed as an active and effortful process, reflecting the dynamic interplay between the mother and her offspring. It is instigated by the waning of maternal motivation, coupled with the increased maternal aversion by the mother in responding to the changing sensory and motoric patterns of pup stimuli. In the decline phase, the neural circuit that mediates the inhibitory (“withdrawal”) responses starts to increase activity and gain control of behavioral outputs, while the excitatory (“approach”) maternal neural circuit is being inhibited or reorganized. Various hormones and certain monoamines may play a critical role in tipping the balance between the excitatory and inhibitory neural circuits to synchronize the mother-infant interaction.

产妇行为的下降对于年轻人的正常发育和母亲的健康至关重要。本文综述了有关大鼠孕产妇行为下降的因素和机制的有限研究，并提出了一个多层次的模型。在父母与子女冲突理论（一个最终原因）和进近退出模型（一个近因）的框架下，孕产妇行为下降被认为是一个积极而努力的过程，反映了母亲与其后代之间的动态相互作用。孕产妇动机的减弱，以及母亲对幼崽刺激感官和运动模式的变化作出反应而增加的孕产妇厌恶感，促使这种疾病发作。在下降阶段 抑制性（“撤回”）反应的神经回路开始增加活动并获得对行为输出的控制，而母性神经回路的兴奋性（“途径”）则受到抑制或重组。各种激素和某些单胺在维持兴奋性和抑制性神经回路之间的平衡以同步母婴相互作用方面可能起关键作用。