Monkeys separated from their mothers grow up 'suffering from stress, depression and poor social skills'

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Like humans? Rhesus macaque monkeys separated from their mothers at birth grow up with poor social skills and suffer long-lasting symptoms of anxiety

Baby monkeys separated from their mothers at birth grow up with poor social skills and suffer long-lasting symptoms of anxiety, according to a study.

The changes caused by this early jolt also include depression and may be permanent.

Scientists believe their research could help us better understand the equivalent human experience.

However, the duration of these adverse effects has previously largely remained unknown.

Lead researcher Xintian Hu and his team analysed the effects of maternal separation on rhesus macaques three years after the monkeys were separated from their mothers at birth.

During those years, the monkeys, mostly reared by peers, led a normal social life.

This suggests that maternal separation at birth can lead to anxious behaviour that lingers as late as three years of age.

The study authors now believe that macaques might be a suitable experimental model to study the effects of childhood traumatic experiences among people.

The research is published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

source: dailymail