Forget drink and drugs. If a woman wants a natural high, there's nothing better than a baby's smile, according to a new study.The sight of a smiling infant lights up the same 'feel-good' parts of the brain that a glass of wine or bar of chocolate would.
Scientists put 28 first time Mums whose babies were aged between 5 and 10 months into an MRI brain scanner. The women were then asked to look at photographs of their own children and other babies. In some of the photos the babies were smiling and happy, in others they were sad or had neutral expressions. The machine showed the flow of blood in their brains as they gazed at the different faces. When the Mums saw their own children, areas of the brain associated with the 'reward' chemical 'Dopamine' lit up.
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Crying babies made virtually no difference to the reward centres of the brain, however, smiling faces triggered the biggest reactions.
The researchers say the findings could explain the strong bond between Mums and their babies and perhaps even why that bond is sometimes missing.
Dr Lane Strathearn, of the Texas Childrens' Hospital, who carried out the study, said "Understanding how mother responds uniquely to her own infant, when smiling or crying, may be the first step in understanding the neural basis of mother-infant atachment. The relationship between mothers and infants is crucial for child development."
July 2008
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