As a mother, your attention when your child cries may do more than give them temporary comfort, it may determine the future size of their brain. A shocking comparison of brain scans from two three-year-old children reveals new evidence of the remarkable impact a mother’s love has on a child’s brain development.
When scientists scanned and compared the brains of two 3-year-old children, they found that the one who had been treated nicely and nourished by its mother had a considerably larger brain with fewer spots and lesser dark areas, compared to the neglected child.
According to researchers, this difference was caused by the way each child was treated by their mothers. The child with the larger and more fully developed brain was looked after by its mother – she was constantly responsive to her baby, reported The Sunday Telegraph.
But the child with the shrunken brain was the victim of severe neglect and abuse. According to research reported by the newspaper, the brain on the right worryingly lacks some of the most fundamental areas present in the image on the left.
They say that the child with the larger brain will be more intelligent and will be more likely to develop the social ability to empathize with others compared to the child with the smaller brain.
On the other hand, the child with the smaller brain will be more likely to become addicted to drugs, be involved in violent crimes, be unemployed and file for government benefits in the future. Most shockingly, the child with the shrunken brain is significantly more likely to develop mental and other serious health-related problems.
The latest study supports research released earlier this year that showed that children brought up by mothers who provide love and affection early in life are smarter and have a greater capacity to learn. In the end, it’s one more reason to love your children. If you’re going to have them, take care of them!
