"Dream, Dream, Dream! Conduct these dreams into thoughts, and then transform them into action."
- Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
12 Jan 2024
When mothers and newborns connect, their brains can function as a "mega-network" by coordinating their brain waves. Mothers' emotional states influence the degree of connectivity between their brains and that of their babies. Mothers who exhibit more positive emotions have stronger neural connections. This might support the infant's learning and mental development.
Methodology And Findings:
Dual electroencephalography (EEG) was the technique employed in the study to examine brain waves in mothers and infants during social interactions. They discovered that mothers and infants had a tendency to exhibit interpersonal neural connection, or brain wave synchronization. Through the application of a mathematical technique called network analysis to examine the characteristics and architecture of interpersonal neural connection, the researchers were able to see both the internal information flow within each individual brain and the network functioning of the two brains as a whole.
Because their brains are so closely linked, mothers and newborns often spend a lot of time together in a happy emotional state. The mother's and the baby's brains' capacity to function as a unified system is improved by good connection, namely by making lots of eye contact, according to the study. This facilitates effective information exchange and flow between mother and child. The findings also imply that a diminished brain connection between the mother and child may be the reason why depressed moms' kids exhibit reduced signs of learning. Clinically depressed mothers who suffer a chronically low or negative mental state tend to engage with their child less. They seldom make eye contact, seldom speak in a softer tone, and show less interest in their baby's attempts to obtain their attention.
Supremacy of Emotional Connection:
In early life, emotional communication between parents and their offspring is critical, but little is understood about the neurological foundations of this communication. This is the first brain imaging study involving two related persons to look at whether and how the emotional state of mothers affects the interpersonal neural connectedness of newborns with their moms. Humans are sociable beings who share emotional states with other people. This study demonstrates how emotions alter the brain connections between two people. According to the researchers, many other forms of affiliative bonds, such as those between siblings, close friends, and partners, where one person is extremely sensitive to the other, can benefit from their results. The degree of trust and familiarity between the two individuals will probably determine how strong the effect is.
“Motherhood is the biggest gamble in the world. It is the glorious life force. It’s huge and scary – it’s an act of infinite optimism.” —Gilda Radner