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