Thread by @bridgetmcgann, Some #FathersDay science!We tend to think of mothers as the more [...]

All of this, on top of a climate crisis.

science!

We tend to think of mothers as the more biologically connected parent, and the assumption is that moms are more of a “natural” at parenting whereas dads are not. This is not true. Dads have some VERY interesting biological responses to their kids!

1/13

@LeeGettler & colleagues found that dads who spend lots time with their kids-caring for them, cosleeping, hanging out, just everyday things-experience a rise in prolactin.

2/13

If you know what prolactin is, you might be going, "...Wait, what?!" That's because is the milk-making hormone--for breastfeeding! But lesser-known is that it also happens to be associated with caregiving behavior in vertebrates, male AND female.

3/13 https://fatherhood.global/prolactin-fathers/

Is prolactin the “breastfeeding hormone”? What is it doing in fathers? - fatherhood

Some think that prolactin helps bring out more “outward looking” forms of fathering, which is found in some animals, such as bird fathers.

https://fatherhood.global/prolactin-fathers/

Along with Peter Gray and others, Gettler has also found that, over time, dads get a dip in testosterone. It's still unclear why, but it may have to do with sensitizing fathers to the cues of his child--vs. the cues of a woman he meets at a bar!

https://www.pnas.org/content/108/39/16194

4/13

Longitudinal evidence that fatherhood decreases testosterone in human males

In species in which males care for young, testosterone (T) is often high during mating periods but then declines to allow for caregiving of resulting offspring. This model may apply to human males,...

https://www.pnas.org/content/108/39/16194

This time/biology relationship is borne out by psychological research on father-child attachment--for dads, it is formed through “clocking hours” with his child. Not just play, but everyday caregiving, cuddling, and just “being” together.

5/13

(Attachment is distinct from bonding in that it is a scientific measure that has been shown to predict developmental outcomes later on such as resilience and quality of interpersonal relationships in adulthood.)

6/13

Parenting style is different in dads (at least in the West)-equal in importance, & complementary to moms' style. It tends to be more playful and exploratory. This style of parenting encourages confidence and curiosity in the child, and increases openness to new experiences.
7/13

Studies of cortisol response and MRIs have found that all parents have a neurological response to the laughing and crying of babies. This study found that dads correctly identified their own baby's cry just as well as moms could.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/fathers-recognize-their-babies-cries-just-as-well-as-mothers-23500912/

8/13

Fathers Recognize Their Babies’ Cries Just as Well as Mothers

A new study shows that fathers and mothers are equally capable at knowing their infant's unique cry—if both contribute to parenting equally

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/fathers-recognize-their-babies-cries-just-as-well-as-mothers-23500912/

(Side note: Some studies have found a more pronounced response in the brains of breastfeeding mothers vs. formula feeding, but this in no way means some parents are "better" parents than others! Also it's super complex so don't @ me plz)

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4612645/

8.2/13

Parental brain: cerebral areas activated by infant cries and faces. A comparison between different...

Literature about parenting traditionally focused on caring behaviors and parental representations. Nowadays, an innovative line of research, interested in evaluating the neural areas and hormones...

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4612645/

Not forgetting my #Pride

dads! Ruth Feldman in @PNASNews found an interesting phenomenon in the brains of gay dads. Instead of responding like 2 heterosexual dads, their brains respond more like *both sexes*. And again, the effect increases w/ time.

https://www.pnas.org/content/111/27/9792.short

9/13

Not forgetting my #Pride dads! Ruth Feldman in @PNASNews found an interesting phenomenon in the brains of gay dads. Instead of responding like 2 heterosexual dads, their brains respond more like *both sexes*. And again, the effect increases w/ time. https://www.pnas.org/content/111/27/9792.short9/13

(...Of course, the difference in neurological responses in moms vs. dads is probably largely influenced by cultural gender roles, and structural inequities that place a greater burden of non-reproductive parenting tasks on one gender over the other. #SmashThePatriarchy)

10/13

In our culture, boys and men are not encouraged in caregiving in the way girls are. Young boys aren’t given dolls, and older boys don’t get hired as babysitters. Men walk onto an uneven playing field when they become parents.

11/13

And yet! Dads are every bit as capable as their female peers. The biological scaffolding is already within you. And as for gay and trans parents--*we need more research*, but early research suggests our brains are plastic, and they adapt to their role beautifully.

12/13

Tl;dr: Whether you are the birthing parent or not, whether you breastfed or not, with time and work and patience, every parent is capable of building a profound and biologically-driven connection with their child.

Happy #FathersDay

! Love, science

13/13

Tl;dr: Whether you are the birthing parent or not, whether you breastfed or not, with time and work and patience, every parent is capable of building a profound and biologically-driven connection with their child. Happy #FathersDay ! Love, science13/13

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