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| Research article summary (published 16 May 2009): |
Baby schema modulates the brain reward system in nulliparous women.
Full Abstract
Ethologist Konrad Lorenz defined the baby schema ("Kindchenschema") as a set of infantile physical features, such as round face and big eyes, that is perceived as cute and motivates caretaking behavior in the human, with the evolutionary function of enhancing offspring survival. The neural basis of this fundamental altruistic instinct is not well understood. Prior studies reported a pattern of brain response to pictures of children, but did not dissociate the brain response to baby schema from the response to children. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging and controlled manipulation of the baby schema in infant faces, we found that baby schema activates the nucleus accumbens, a key structure of the mesocorticolimbic system mediating reward processing and appetitive motivation, in nulliparous women. Our findings suggest that engagement of the mesocorticolimbic system is the neurophysiologic mechanism by which baby schema promotes human caregiving, regardless of kinship.
Author information
Author/s: Glocker, Melanie L (ML); Langleben, Daniel D (DD); Ruparel, Kosha (K); Loughead, James W (JW); Valdez, Jeffrey N (JN); Griffin, Mark D (MD); Sachser, Norbert (N); Gur, Ruben C (RC);
Affiliation: Brain Behavior Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. melanieglocker(-atsign-)aol.com
Grants: MH-60722 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS)
Journal and publication information
Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A), published in United States. (Language: eng)
Reference: 2009-Jun; vol 106 (issue 22) : pp 9115-9
Dates: Created 2009/06/05; Completed 2009/06/17;
PMID: 19451625, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 6/17/2009, IMS Date: )
Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.
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