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