The Brain Responses Of Mothers And Fathers


Key takeaways for caregivers

  • Mothers and fathers show similar patterns of brain activity when exposed to stimuli from their infants.
  • The observed brain changes occur in areas associated with reward, motivation, and empathyand is associated with hormonal changes in mothers and fathers.
  • Brain systems may reflect parental potential that human fathers and other mammalian fathers use when they are more involved in caregiving.

Fathers’ brains respond when they are exposed to stimuli from their babies

the neurobiology of fatherhood in humans appears to be similar to the neurobiology of motherhood, involving two brain systems – a “motivational” system that refers to the drive to nurture children, and an “empathic” system that refers to the ability to understand the thoughts and feelings of others. .

Fathers who were shown pictures of their own newborns experienced more activation of the empathy and reward systems than when shown pictures of unknown newborns.

For example, mothers’ and fathers’ brain responses to photos or videos of their infants overlapped. Increased activity is seen in areas of the brain associated with reward, motivation, and empathy. In one study, increased activity in the brain’s reward systems was also related to the father’s active engagement in caregiving, as reported by the mother.

In another study, fathers who were shown pictures of their own newborns experienced more activation of the empathy and reward systems than fathers who were shown pictures of unknown newborns. . In another study, a new father’s self-reported positive thoughts about his infant were associated with activation of the reward system in response to his infant’s crying. Future research will look at fathers’ other brain responses — to children’s laughter, speech, and actions.

Brain changes are connected to hormonal changes activated by involved parenting

there growing evidence that these changes are associated with hormones which is done when fathers take care of their children. The key difference between human mothers and fathers is the degree of paternal variability. After birth, most mothers are actively involved in parenting, but fatherhood is only activated when circumstances require it or allow it, and even then it is highly variable.

When fatherhood is activated, neural processes occur in fathers similar to those in mothers.

In societies with small family units living apart from kin networks and in families with scarce resources, father involvement is necessary. When fatherhood is activated, neural processes occur in fathers similar to those in mothers. It seems that parental potential exists in all people and can be activated when circumstances require.

In the wild, fathers actively care for their young in only 5% of mammalian species (eg, some primates, rodents, and canids, in particular). As in humans, this paternal behavior involves the same brain processes as those involved in maternal behavior. But when the animals are in captivity and in unnatural conditions, fathers become more active. This suggests that parental brain systems may exist in many male mammals, and that they may be activated when an active paternal role is desired or possible.





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