The Network has conducted several related studies in Rhesus monkeys that address how early social deprivation affects brain and behavioral development. Monkeys who were removed from their mothers at either 1 week of age or 4 weeks of age developed strikingly abnormal behaviors compared both to each other and to normal monkeys who left their mothers at 6 months, the usual time for maternal separation. Neuroanatomical studies of these monkeys have shown distinct differences in some areas related to social functioning. Other studies involve introducing monkeys separated at 1 week of age (who appear to lack any social drive after the separation) to a supermom (a female monkey known to adopt infants). These studies are showing that, while the behavioral abnormalities seen in these separated monkeys can be remediated by the introduction of a substitute mother, there appears to be a narrow window of opportunity for the reintroduction of maternal …
