Normal animals, operates with a mean area of cortical destruction of 17.5% of the dorsolateral cortical surface and operates with mean cortical lesion of 15.8% of the median cortical surfaces, all multiparous females, were studied with respect to maternal behavior. Per cent survival of pups was significantly less for the median injury group of mothers. Nest building, present in normal and lateral groups, was absent in the median group. Early gathering of pups was deficient in the median group, as was protective behavior in shielding the pups from airblast or radiant heat. It is concluded that the cingulate and retrosplenial areas have "a unique function in the integration of complex unlearned behavior patterns." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)