Paternal Instincts Proven: Dads Understand Their Babies

Paternal instinct exists and is as effective as maternal instinct, scientists have proven. Dads understand their newborns on a neuronal level and can literally read their minds. Researchers examined 32 men who recently became fathers: their brains responded uniquely in MRI scans to their own children. When watching videos with infants, it was their own children that activated the areas responsible for emotions, reward, and understanding others' thoughts. The strength of the reaction did not depend on the baby's age or the time spent with them, but on how much the father felt an emotional connection. The authors emphasize that the results debunk the myth that men are "by nature" deprived of a subtle understanding of babies. Their brains are capable of literally "reading" a child's emotions and adapting to their needs.