Preliminary genetic imaging study of the association between estrogen receptor-α gene polymorphisms and harsh human maternal parenting

► Harsh parenting is a risk factor for mental and physical health problems in humans. ► The ESR1 receptor is critical to adaptive maternal behavior in nonhuman mammals. ► ESR1 genotype predicted human neural responses to children and maternal parenting. ► Future study of ESR1, neural responses to child stimuli, and child abuse is warranted.