Add us to yourGoogle favoritesThe maternal instinct is at the heart of numerous scientific and psychological studies concerning its origins and its biological and psychological impact on children. A recent study supports this concept by attributing a biological and innate origin to maternal instinct, free from any cultural influence. According to researchers from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development in the United States, the maternal instinct, especially how mothers respond to their baby’s cries, is an innately biological phenomenon independent of any external conditioning. This analysis identified brain areas involved in the maternal instinct. Understanding the neurological processes involved in the development of maternal instinct could help prevent the risk of child maltreatment and respond appropriately.