Breastfeeding dynamically changes endogenous oxytocin levels and emotion recognition in mothers
Year: 2020
Type: article
Abstract: Breastfeeding behaviours can significantly change mothers' physiological and psychological states. The hormone oxytocin may mediate breastfeeding and mothers' emotion recognition. This study examined the effects of endogenous oxytocin fluctuation via breastfeeding on emotion recognition in 51 primiparous mothers. Saliva oxytocin was assessed before and after the manipulation (breastfeeding or holding an infant), and emotion recognition tasks were conducted. Among mothers who breastfed daily, mothers with more increased levels of oxytocin after breastfeeding showed more reduced negative recognition and enhanced positive recognition of adult facial expressions. These oxytocin functions accompanying breastfeeding may support continued nurturing behaviours and also affect the general social cognition of other adults beyond any specific effect on infants.
Source: Biology Letters
Institutions: Kyoto University, Azabu University
Language: English
Subfield: Endocrine and Autonomic Systems
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Awards: Human health promotion by inter-species symbiosis-Mental and physical health development of children by human-dog coexistent of microbiota, Development of interoceptive and exteroceptive integration in social interation, 母子の身体感覚の個人差が社会的認知発達に与える影響―授乳場面に着目して, Development of self- from bodily self to the representation of self-other distinction
OpenAlex ID: W3032122114