Dr. Allison Perkeybile investigates the effects of exogenous oxytocin administration at birth on parental behavior and maternal neurobiology, as well as behavioral and neural developmental trajectories in offspring. Her work supports research by Dr. C. Sue Carter, Distinguished University Scientist at the Kinsey Institute.
Perkeybile's pre-doctoral work examined naturally occurring variation in early infant care in the prairie vole—a biparental rodent in which the father contributes significantly to care of offspring. This research focused on the consequences this variation in early care had on various aspects of social behavior, neuropeptide system function, and stress responsivity for offspring.
How early life experiences work to shape: