Influence of maternal characteristics on the social motivation of young
Résumé
Social motivation is a fundamental driver in social relationships, and its variability is determined by both genetic and epigenetic factors. Among external factors, influences from the mother, the first interactive individual that young meet, seem to have a preponderant effect on development. Accordingly, we addressed maternal influence on the behavioral characteristics in young, particularly on social motivation. Social motivation was measured in fostered young Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica) genetically selected for either high (HSM) or low (LSM) levels of social motivation. Behavioral characteristics were determined simultaneously by classical ethological procedures for both the adoptive mothers and the young, both during the maternal phase and after emancipation. Our results show that maternal social characteristics significantly influence social reinstatement behavior in young in both the short and long term: young reared by HSM females showed higher social motivation than those reared by LSM females. Not all facets of maternal behavior were expressed however, such that transmission is not total.