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Parental response to baby cry involves brain circuits for negative emotion Distancing-Embracing

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2017

James E. Swain
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Stony Brook University Medical Center, Stony Brook, NY 11794. james.swain@stonybrookmedicine.eduShao-Hsuan.ho@stonybrookmedicine.eduhttps://www.stonybrookmedicine.edu/profile?pid=2038&name=James%20Swain%20MDhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Shao-Hsuan_Ho Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology and Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105. Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520.
S. Shaun Ho
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Stony Brook University Medical Center, Stony Brook, NY 11794. james.swain@stonybrookmedicine.eduShao-Hsuan.ho@stonybrookmedicine.eduhttps://www.stonybrookmedicine.edu/profile?pid=2038&name=James%20Swain%20MDhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Shao-Hsuan_Ho

Abstract

The “art form” of parent-infant bonding critically involves baby conveying negative emotions – literally compelling parents to respond and provide care. Current research on the brain basis of parenting is combining brain imaging with social, cognitive, and behavioral analyses to understand how parental brain circuits regulate thoughts and behavior in mental health, risk, and resilience. Understanding the parental brain may contribute to solving the long-standing paradox of self-sought hedonic exposure to negative emotions in art reception.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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