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Like many newborn mammals, baby mice cry to get their mother's attention. But the mother doesn't instinctively recognize these calls; she must learn the sounds of her offspring-just as human parents must learn the cries of their infants. Now, a team of researchers has discovered that the hormone oxytocin, which has been tied to trust and maternal bonding, holds the key to how this learning occurs. Only after oxytocin  tweaks the brain of a female mouse does she respond with a mother's concern and attentiveness to crying pups.

If you think of your dog as your "fur baby," science has your back. New research shows that when our canine pals stare into our eyes, they activate the same hormonal response that bonds us to human infants. The study-the first to show this hormonal bonding effect between humans and another species-may help explain how dogs became our companions thousands of years ago.

Highlighting role of animal research in human health.  A visually appealing website with an array of research summaries.