A joint study between research institutions in the United States and Spain found that paternity has the ability to create changes in the brain. The pioneering study was published in the journal Cerebral Cortex.
Our brain is great. It has an adaptive property called neuroplasticity, which, in a simplified way, is the ability to create new neuronal pathways and change itself as we learn new things or experience new situations.
Many studies of first-time mothers strongly report changes in the brain structure of these women.
The physical, emotional and hormonal changes caused by pregnancy seem to have a dominant factor in the structural changes of the brain, and even cause a decrease in some regions.
No pregnancy, no change, right?
False. The researchers decided to look for fathers and check, through imaging tests, whether the baby’s arrival favored brain changes in boys as well.
A total of 57 volunteers participated in the study. Of this amount, 20 were from the United States and 20 from Spain. Another 17, also Hispanic, served as the control group.
Parents living with their pregnant spouse for the first time were selected to participate in the study.
Brain mapping examinations with magnetic resonance imaging were performed while their spouses were still pregnant and were repeated 6 months after the baby was born.
Scientists have noticed that fathers, similar to mothers, undergo changes in their brain structure only after the birth of the baby.
According to the researchers, the birth of a child promotes neuroplasticity as a result of experience and requires structural changes.
Like the mothers, the fathers also had a reduction in brain volume related to certain areas. In the case of this group, the most obvious change was related to the visual system.
In the paper, the researchers conclude that “these findings may suggest a unique role of the visual system in helping parents recognize their infants and respond accordingly. It is a hypothesis that will be confirmed by future studies.”
The researchers argue that more research is needed in this area, not only to understand the neurological processes caused by paternity, but also to formulate public policies such as increasing paternity leave. some countries.
Source: Tec Mundo
I am Bret Jackson, a professional journalist and author for Gadget Onus, where I specialize in writing about the gaming industry. With over 6 years of experience in my field, I have built up an extensive portfolio that ranges from reviews to interviews with top figures within the industry. My work has been featured on various news sites, providing readers with insightful analysis regarding the current state of gaming culture.
