Early life experiences are essential for a healthy development according to both human and animal research. From the attachment literature the primary caregiver has always been the center of attention in predicating outcomes in later development of the child.

The attachment literature also highlights two functions that the caregiver implicit activate, the safe haven and the secure base functions. Safe haven function is when the infant can depend on the caregiver for comfort and relief if stressed. The secure base function is described as when the caregiver works as a platform for the child to explore. This latter function has the intent to describe the infant’s balance between two behaviours; exploration and proximity seeking.

In this study we are linking the described attachment behaviour system with a neurobiological approach of measuring cortical local field potential (LFP) oscillations in rat pups. By using an experimental setting with both measures of behaviour and LFP where the pup interacts with the mother and a stranger we evaluate the secure base function. In addition, we are applying the Scarcity-Adversity Model of maltreatment to disentangle critical attachment disruptions. We are discovering differences in the two different groups of rat pups (control and maltreatment) and are reflecting on these results both on an attachment behavioral and neurobiological developmental level.