| A growing body of scientific evidence shows that the | | | | and growth. It also contains many immunities a baby |
| way babies are cared for by their mothers will | | | | needs in early life while her own immune system is |
| determine not only their emotional development, but the | | | | maturing. One more instance of mother extending her |
| biological development of the child's brain and central | | | | own power, (love) to her developing child.LIMBIC |
| nervous system as well. The nature of love, and how | | | | REGULATION: The Loop of LoveAnother key to |
| the capacity to love develops, has become the | | | | understanding how a mother's love shapes the |
| subject of scientific study over the last decade. New | | | | emerging capacities of her infant is what doctors |
| data is emerging from a multitude of disciplines including | | | | Thomas Lewis, Fari Amini, and Richard Lannon , |
| neurology, psychology, biology, ethology, anthropology | | | | authors of A General Theory of Love, call limbic |
| and neurocardiology. Something scientific disciplines find | | | | regulation; a mutually synchronizing hormonal exchange |
| in common when putting love under the microscope is | | | | between mother and child which serves to regulate |
| that in addition to shaping the brains of infants, mother's | | | | vital rhythms.Human physiology, they say, does not |
| love acts as a template for love itself and has far | | | | direct all of its own functions; it is interdependent. It |
| reaching effects on her child's ability to love throughout | | | | must be steadied by the physical presence of another |
| life.To mothers holding their newborn babies it will | | | | to maintain both physical and emotional health. "Limbic |
| come as little surprise that the 'decade of the brain' | | | | regulation mandates interdependence for social |
| has lead science to the wisdom of the mother's | | | | mammals of all ages." says Lewis, "But young |
| heart.According to Alan Schore, assistant clinical | | | | mammals are in special need of it's guidance: their |
| professor in the department of psychiatry and | | | | neural systems are not only immature but also growing |
| biobehavioral sciences at UCLA School of Medicine, a | | | | and changing. One of the physiologic processes that |
| major conclusion of the last decade of developmental | | | | limbic regulation directs, in other words, is the |
| neuroscience research is that the infant brain is | | | | development of the brain itself - and that means |
| designed to be molded by the environment it | | | | attachment determines the ultimate nature of a child's |
| encounters.1 In other words, babies are born with a | | | | mind." A baby's physiology is maximally open-loop: |
| certain set of genetics, but they must be activated by | | | | without limbic regulation, vital rhythms collapse posing |
| early experience and interaction. Schore believes the | | | | great danger, even death.The regulatory information |
| most crucial component of these earliest interactions is | | | | required by infants can alter hormone levels, |
| the primary caregiver - the mother. "The child's first | | | | cardiovascular function, sleep rhythms, immune |
| relationship, the one with the mother, acts as a | | | | function, and more. Lewis, et al contend that , the |
| template, as it permanently molds the individual's | | | | steady piston of mother's heart along with the |
| capacities to enter into all later emotional relationships." | | | | regularity of her breathing coordinate the ebb and flow |
| Others agree. The first months of an infant's life | | | | of an infant's young internal rhythms. They believe |
| constitute what is known as a critical period - a time | | | | sleep to be an intricate brain rhythm which the neurally |
| when events are imprinted in the nervous | | | | immature infant must first borrow from parents. |
| system."Hugs and kisses during these critical periods | | | | "Although it sounds outlandish to some American ears, |
| make those neurons grow and connect properly with | | | | exposure to parents can keep a sleeping baby |
| other neurons." Says Dr. Arthur Janov, in his book | | | | alive."The Myth of IndependenceThis interdependence |
| Biology of Love. "You can kiss that brain into | | | | mandated by limbic regulation is vital during infancy, but |
| maturity."Hormones, The Language of LoveIn his | | | | it's also something we need throughout the rest of |
| beautiful book, The Scientification of Love, French | | | | childhood and on into adulthood. In many ways, humans |
| obstetrician Michel Odent explains how Oxytocin, a | | | | cannot be stable on their own-we require others to |
| hormone released by the pituitary gland stimulates the | | | | survive. Recall that our nervous systems are not |
| release of chemical messengers in the heart. Oxytocin, | | | | self-contained; they link with those of the people close |
| which is essential during birth, stimulating contractions, | | | | to us in a silent rhythm that helps regulate our |
| and during lactation, stimulating the 'milk ejection reflex', | | | | physiology. This is not a popular notion in a culture that |
| is also involved in other 'loving behaviors'. "It is | | | | values independence over interdependence. However, |
| noticeable that whatever the facet of love we | | | | as a society that cherishes individual freedoms more |
| consider, oxytocin is involved.' Says Odent. "During | | | | than any other, we must respect the process |
| intercourse both partners - female and male - release | | | | whereby autonomy develops.Children require ongoing |
| oxytocin." One study even shows that the simple act | | | | neural synchrony from parents in order for their natural |
| of sharing a meal with other people increases our | | | | capacity for self-directedness to emerge. A mother's |
| levels of this 'love hormone'.2The altruistic oxytocin is | | | | love is a continuous shaping force throughout childhood |
| part of a complex hormonal balance. A sudden | | | | and requires an adequate stage of dependency. The |
| release of Oxytocin creates an urge toward loving | | | | work of Mary Ainsworth has shown that maternal |
| which can be directed in different ways depending on | | | | responsiveness and close bodily contact lead to the |
| the presence of other hormones, which is why there | | | | unfolding of self-reliance and self confidence.9 |
| are different types of love. For example, with a high | | | | Because our culture does not sufficiently value |
| level of prolactin, a well-known mothering hormone, the | | | | interpersonal relationships, the mother/child bond is not |
| urge to love is directed toward babies.While Oxytocin | | | | recognized and supported as it could be.The ability of |
| is an altruistic hormone and prolactin a mothering | | | | a mother to read the emotional state of her child is |
| hormone, endorphins represent our 'reward system'. | | | | older than our own species, and is essential to our |
| "Each time we mammals do something that benefits | | | | survival, health and happiness. We are reminded of this |
| the survival of the species, we are rewarded by the | | | | each time a hurt child changes from sad/scared/angry |
| secretion of these morphine-like substances." Says | | | | to peaceful in our loving embrace. Warm human |
| Odent.During birth there is also an increase in the level | | | | contact generates the internal release of opiates, |
| of endorphins in the fetus so that in the moments | | | | making mother's love a powerful anodyne. Even |
| following birth both mother and baby are under the | | | | teenagers who sometimes behave as if they are 'so |
| effects of opiates. The role of these hormones is to | | | | over' the need for a mother's affection must be kept |
| encourage dependency, which ensures a strong | | | | in the limbic loop. Children at this age might be at |
| attachment between mother and infant. In situations of | | | | special risk for falling through the emotional cracks. If |
| failed affectional bonding between mother and baby | | | | they don't get the emotional regulation that family |
| there will be a deficiency of the appropriate hormones, | | | | relationships are designed to provide, their hungry |
| which could leave a child susceptible to substance | | | | brains may seek ineffectual substitutes like drugs and |
| abuse in later life as the system continually attempts to | | | | alcohol.Children left too long under the electronic |
| right itself.3 You can say no to drugs, but not to | | | | stewardship of television, video games, etc., are not |
| neurobiology. Human brains have evolved from earlier | | | | receiving the steady limbic connection with a resonant |
| mammals. The first portion of our brain that evolved on | | | | parent. Without this a child cannot internalize emotional |
| top of its reptilian heritage is the limbic system, the seat | | | | balance properly.Our hearts and brains are hardwired |
| of emotion. It is this portion of the brain that permits | | | | for love, and from infancy to old age our health and |
| mothers and their babies to bond. Mothers and babies | | | | happiness depend on receiving it.As the research |
| are hardwired for the experience of togetherness. The | | | | keeps coming in and we gain a gradually expanding |
| habits of breastfeeding, co-sleeping, and babywearing | | | | vision of how mother love shapes our species, we |
| practiced by the majority of! mothers in | | | | see an obvious need to take steps to protect and |
| non-industrialized cultures, and more and more in our | | | | provide for the mother/child bond. We can take heart |
| own, facilitate two of the main components needed | | | | knowing that all the while we carry in our genes over |
| for optimal mother/child bonding: proximity and | | | | a million years of evolutionary refinements equipping us |
| touch.PROXIMITY, Between Mammals, the Nature of | | | | for our role as mothers. The answers sought by |
| Love is Heart to HeartIn many ways it's obvious why | | | | science beat steadily within our own hearts.Notes 1. |
| a helpless newborn would require continuous close | | | | Schore, Alan, Effects of a Secure Attachment |
| proximity to a caregiver; they're helpless and unable to | | | | Relationship on Right Brain Development, Affect |
| provide for themselves. But science is unveiling other | | | | Regulation, and Infant Mental Health, 2001 2.Verbalis, |
| less obvious benefits of holding baby close. Mother | | | | J.G., McCann, McHale and Stricker, 'Oxytocin secretion |
| child bonding isn't just for brains, but is also an affair of | | | | in response to cholecystoknin and food: differentiation |
| the heart. In his 1992 work, Evolution's End, Joseph | | | | of nausea from satiety.' Science 1986, 232: 1417-19 3. |
| Chilton Pearce describes the dual role of the heart cell, | | | | Prescott, James W., PhD, Breastfeeding: Brain Nutrients |
| saying that it not only contracts and expands | | | | in Brain Development For Human Love and Peace, |
| rhythmically to pump blood, it communicates with its | | | | From Touch The Future Newsletter, Spring 1997 4. |
| fellow cells. "If you isolate a cell from the heart, keep it | | | | Prescott, James W., PhD, The Origins of Human Love |
| alive and examine it through a microscope, you will see | | | | and Violence, From Pre and Perinatal Psychology |
| it lose it's synchronous rhythm and begin to fibrillate until | | | | Journal, Volume 10, #3: Spring 1996 5. Henry Holt, 1997 |
| it dies. If you put another isolated heart cell on that | | | | 6. Prescott, James W. , Ph.D , Rock A Bye Baby, Time |
| microscopic slide it will also fibrillate . If you move the | | | | Life Documentary, 1970, Executive Producer: Lothar |
| two cells within a certain proximity, however , they | | | | Wolff, Scientific Consultant. (last modified 2001/04/16). |
| synchronize and beat in unison." Perhaps this is why | | | | 7. Montagu, Ashley Touching : The Human Significance |
| most mothers instinctively place their babies to their left | | | | of the Skin, Harper, 1986 8. Prescott, James W., PhD, |
| breast, keep! ing those hearts in proximity. The heart | | | | Breastfeeding: Brain Nutrients in Brain Development For |
| produces the hormone, ANF that dramatically affects | | | | Human Love and Peace, From Touch The Future |
| every major system of the body. "All evidence | | | | Newsletter, Spring 1997 9. Ainsworth, M.D.S., |
| indicates that the mother's developed heart stimulates | | | | "Attachments Across the Life Span." Bulletin of the |
| the newborn heart, thereby activating a dialogue | | | | New York Academy of Medicine 61, |
| between the infant's brain-mind and heart." says | | | | 1985ReferencesCarmichael, M.S., Warburton, V.L., |
| Pearce who believes this heart to heart | | | | Dixen, J., and Davidson, J.M. (1994). Relationships among |
| communication activates intelligences in the mother | | | | cardiovascular, muscular, and oxytocin responses |
| also. "On holding her infant in the left-breast position | | | | during human sexual activity. Archives of Sexual |
| with its corresponding heart contact, a major block of | | | | Behavior. Feb. 23(1):59-79.Carter, C.S., Willams, J.R., Witt, |
| dormant intelligences is activated in the mother, causing | | | | D.M., Insel, T;;.R. (1992). Oxytocin and social bonding. |
| precise shifts of brain function and permanent behavior | | | | Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. Jun |
| changes." In this beautiful dynamic the infant's system | | | | 12. 652:204-211.Castrogiovanni, P., Capone, M.R., |
| is activated by being held closely; and this proximity | | | | Maremmani, I. and Marazziti, D. (1994). Platelet |
| also stimulates a new intelligence in the mother, which | | | | serotonergic markers and aggressive behaviour in |
| helps her to respond to and nurture her infant. Pretty | | | | healthy subjects. Neuropsychobiology. |
| nifty plan - and another good reason to aim for a | | | | 29(3):105-107.Cook, P.S. (1996). Early Child Care: Infants |
| natural birth. If nature is handing out intelligence to help | | | | & Nations At Risk. News Weekly Books |
| us in our role as mothers we want to be awake ! and | | | | MelbourneFazzolari-Nesci, A., Domianello, D., Sotera, V. |
| alert!TOUCH"The easiest and quickest way to induce | | | | and Raiha, N.C. (1992). Tryptophan fortification of |
| depression and alienation in an infant or child is not to | | | | adapted formula increaes plasma tryptophan |
| touch it, hold it, or carry it on your body." - James W. | | | | concentrations to levels not different from those found |
| Prescott, PhDResearch in neuroscience has shown | | | | in breast-fed infants. J. Pediatric Gastroenterology and |
| that touch is necessary for human development and | | | | Nutrition. May. 14(4): 456-459.Ferris, C.F., Foote, K.B., |
| that a lack of touch damages not only individuals, but | | | | Melster, H.M., Plenby, M.G., Smith, K.L., Insel, T.R. (1992). |
| our whole society. Human touch and love is essential | | | | Oxytocin in the amygdala facilitates maternal |
| to health. A lack of stimulus and touch very early on | | | | aggression. Annals of the New York Academy of |
| causes the stress hormone, cortisol to be released | | | | Sciences. June 12. 652:456-457.Gutkowska, J., |
| which creates a toxic brain environment and can | | | | Antunes-Rodrigues, J. and McCann, S.M.'Atrialnatriuretic |
| damage certain brain structures. According to James | | | | peptide in brain and pituitary gland.' Physiological |
| W. Prescott, PhD, of the Institute of Humanistic | | | | Review 1997; 77; 2:465-515Higley, J.D., Suomi, S.J., |
| Science, and former research scientist at the National | | | | Linnoila, M. (1990). Parallels in Aggression and Serotonin: |
| Institute of Child Health and Human Development, | | | | Consideration of Development, Rearing History, and |
| sensory deprivation results in behavioral abnormalities | | | | Sex Differences. In: Violence and Suicidality: |
| such as depression, impulse dyscontrol, violence, | | | | Perspectives In Clinical and Psychobiological Research |
| substance abuse, and in impaired immunological | | | | (Herman van Praag, Robert Plutchik and Alan Apter, |
| functioning in mother deprived infants.4 For over a | | | | Eds) NY: Brummer/Mazel.Higley, J.D., Hasert, M.F., |
| million years babies have enjoyed almost constant | | | | Suomi, S.J. and Linnoila, M. (1991). Nonhuman primate |
| in-arms contact with their mothers or other caregivers, | | | | model of alcohol abuse: Effects of early experience, |
| usually members of an extended family, receiving | | | | personality, and stress on alcohol consumption.Proc. |
| constant touch for the first year or so of life. "In | | | | Natl. Acad. Sci. USA V. 88, 7261-7265.Insel, T.R. (1992). |
| nature's nativity scene, ! mother's arms have always | | | | Oxytocin--a nuropeptide for affiliation: evidence from |
| been baby's bed, breakfast, transportation, even | | | | behavioral, receptor autoradiographic, and comparative |
| entertainment, and, for most of the world's babies, they | | | | studies. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 17(1):3-35.Kamimura, |
| still are." says developmental psychologist, Sharon | | | | S., Eguchi, K., Sekiba, K. (1991). Tryptophan and its |
| Heller in, The Vital Touch: How Intimate Contact With | | | | metabolite concentrations in human plasma and breast |
| Your Baby Leads to Happier, Healthier | | | | milk during the perinatal period. Acta Medica Okayama. |
| Development.5To babies,touch = love and fully loved | | | | April 45(2):101-106.Lanting, D.I., Fidler, V. Huisman, M., |
| babies develop healthy brains. During the critical period | | | | Touwen, B.C., Boersma, E.R. (1994). Neurological |
| of development following birth the infant brain is | | | | differences between 9-year old children fed |
| undergoing a massive growth of neural connections. | | | | breast-milk or formula-milk as babies. (1994). Lancet. |
| Synaptic connections in the cortex continue to | | | | Nov 12 344(8933):1319-22.Mahalati, K., Okanoya, K., Witt, |
| proliferate for about two years, when they peak. | | | | D.M., Carter, C.S. (1991). Oxytocin inhibits male sexual |
| During this period one of the most crucial things to | | | | behavior in prairie voles. Pharmacology, Biochemistry |
| survival and healthy development is touch. All mammal | | | | and Behavior. May. 39(1)219-22Murphy, M.R. Checkley, |
| mothers seem to know this instinctively, and, if allowed | | | | s.A., Secki, J.R., Lightman, S.L. (1990). Naloxone inhibits |
| to bond successfully with their babies they will provide | | | | oxytocin release at orgasm in man. (1990). J. of Clinical |
| continuous loving touch.Touch deprivation in infant | | | | Endocrinology and Metabolism. Oct. |
| monkeys is so traumatic their whole system goes | | | | 71(4):1056-1058.Neuringer, M. (1993). Cerebral cortex |
| haywire, with an increase of stress hormones, | | | | docosahexaenoic acid is lower in formula-fed than in |
| increased heart rate, compromised immune system | | | | breast-fed infants.Nutrition Reviews. August |
| and sleep disturbances.6With only 25% of our adult | | | | 51(8):238-41.Newman, J. (1995). How Breast Milk |
| brain size, we are the least mature at birth of any | | | | Protects Newborns. Scientific American. |
| mammal. Anthropologist, Ashley Montagu concluded | | | | December.Prescott, J.W. (l979): Deprivation of physical |
| that given our upright position and large brains, human | | | | affection as a primary process in the develop- ment |
| infants are born prematurely while our heads can still fit | | | | of physical violence. In. Child Abuse and Violence (Gil, D. |
| through the birth canal, and that brain development | | | | G., Ed). AMS PressPrescott, J.W. (1996). The Origins of |
| must therefore extend into postnatal life. He believed | | | | Human Love and Violence. Pre- and Perinatal Journal |
| the human gestation period to actually be eighteen | | | | of Psychology. 10 (3):143-188Prescott, J.W. (2001) |
| months long - nine in the womb and another nine | | | | America's Lost Dream: Life, Liberty And the Pursuit of |
| outside it, and that touch is absolutely vital to this time | | | | Happiness. The Association for Prenatal and Perinatal |
| of "exterogestation."7Newborns are born expecting to | | | | Psychology and Health 10th International Congress: |
| be held, handled, cuddled, rubbed, kissed, and maybe | | | | Birth - The Genesis of Health.Raine, A., Brennan, P. and |
| even licked! All mammals lick their newborns vigorously, | | | | Mednick, S.A. (1994). Birth complication combined with |
| off and on, during the first hours and days after birth in | | | | early maternal rejection at Age 1 year predispose to |
| order to activate their sensory nerve endings, which | | | | violent crime at age 18 years. Arch. Gen. Psych. |
| are involved in motor movements, spatial, and visual | | | | V51:984-988.Salk,L., Lipsitt, L.P., Sturner, W.Q., Reilly, B.M. |
| orientation. These nerve endings cannot be activated | | | | and Levate, R.HJ. (1985). Relationship of maternal and |
| until after birth due to the insulation of the watery | | | | perinatal conditions to eventual adolescent suicide. The |
| womb environment and the coating of vernix casseus | | | | Lancet. March 15.Uauy, R. and De Andraca, I. (1995). |
| on the baby's skin.Recall Dr. Janov's claim that you can | | | | Human milk and breast feeding for optimal mental |
| kiss a brain into maturity. Janov believes that very | | | | development. J. of Nutrition. August 125(8 |
| early touch is central to developing a healthy brain. | | | | Suppl):2278S-2280S.Werner, E. and Smith, R.S. (1992). |
| "Irrespective of the neurojuices involved, it is clear that | | | | Overcoming the odds. High Risk Children from Birth to |
| lack of love changes the chemicals in the brain and | | | | Adulthood. Cornell University Press. Ithaca and |
| can eventually change the structure of that | | | | London.Winslow, J.T. and Insel, T.R. (1991). Social status |
| brain."BREASTFEEDING: Liquid LoveBreastfeeding | | | | in pairs of male squirrel monkeys determines the |
| neatly brings together nourishment for baby with the | | | | behavioral response to central oxytocin administration. |
| need for closeness shared by mother and child; and is | | | | J. of Neuroscience. Jul 11(7):2032-2038.Winslow, J.T., |
| another crucial way that mother's love helps shape | | | | Hastings, N., Carter, C.S., Harbaugh, C.R., Insel, T.R. |
| baby's brain. Research shows that breastmilk is the | | | | (1993). A role for central vasopressin in pair bonding in |
| perfect "brain food", essential for normal brain | | | | monogamous prairie voles. Nature. Oct 7. |
| development, particularly, those brain processes | | | | 365(6446):545-548.Winslow, J.T., Shapiro, L., Carter, |
| associated with depression, violence, and social and | | | | C.S., Insel, T.R. (1993). Oxytocin and complex social |
| sexual behaviors.8Mother's milk, a living liquid, contains | | | | behavior: species comparisons. Psychopharmacology |
| just the right amount of fatty acids, lactose, water, and | | | | Bulletin. 29(3):409-414. |
| amino acids for human digestion, brain development, | | | | |