The Daddy Brain

Science Central reports on research by Kelly Lambert of Randolph Macon College.

New findings by brain researcher Kelly Lambert, professor and chair of the psychology department at Randolph-Macon College, suggest that fatherhood may change more than just a man's lifestyle – it may actually cause lasting benefits in his brain.

Instead of prairie voles,Lambert used two species of  deer mice for her study.  Like the prairie and montain voles, one species is monogamous, the other is not. Although the males of the non-monogamous common deermouse don't engage in nurturing behavior with pups, their brains responded to proximity with a baby mouse by releasing oxytocin and vasopressin.

Lambert says this shows there are health benefits for fathers who help with childcare.

Thanks to A.E. Brain for the link to the article.

Comments

[Lisa]

I need to tell you the easiest way to indulge in oxytocin is through marijuana.

[kuchinskas]

I have been thinking about that, Lisa. I have definitely experienced what I now think was an oxytocin release after smoking marijuana.

I remember one time someone saying, "Isn't this amazing? We don't even know each other and here we are sitting and talking like we're family."

The concept of family -- brotherhood and sisterhood -- was big in the hippie era, and all the ideals that went with it are the feelings resulting from oxytocin: love, trust, calm and connectedness.

That said, I don't think marijuana automatically triggers an oxytocin release. Pot usually makes me anxious and paranoid, so I don't use it.