Being a mom is one of the most important (and often under-appreciated) jobs in the world. We owe our mothers a debt of gratitude. According to data collected by Happy Worker, your mom probably changed your diaper over 7,300 times before your second birthday. As a toddler, chances are you demanded your mom’s attention about once every 4 minutes (yes, your mom tended to your needs more than 210 times a day!). There’s even more… A study in the January edition of The Journal of Neuroscience suggests that your mom most likely had an impact on developing your cognitive function and building your resilience to stress as well.
In the published study, neuroscientist Dr. Tallie Z. Baram’s research uncovered that an increase in sensory input from our mothers (while we are young) reduces the overall impact that stress has on our lives. This increased ability to deal with stress ultimately results in decreasing the chance that we will develop depression later in life. There is also evidence that a loving mother’s touch improves our overall cognitive function.
The theory behind these findings is that the sensory stimulus from maternal care modifies the genes that control a key messenger of stress called corticotropin-releasing hormone. This hormone controls the release of adrenalin and other chemicals that control the way we react to stressful situations.
The research is exciting because it adds more evidence to the role environmental factors have on reprogramming the expression of our genes (called epigenetics), which means that we have more influence over our own well-being than once thought. Baram had this to say about her study, “What’s noteworthy about this study is that it reveals that brain structure is influenced by the environment early in life, and especially by maternal care. There has been a belief that the brain is hardwired — that once it’s established, it’s that way for life. But we’re seeing that the brain is actually ‘soft wired’ — that changes in stimuli alter the wiring — and that it’s not predestined to be a certain way.”
So this Sunday when it is time to wish your mom a Happy Mother’s Day you will now have one more reason to thank her for all that she has provided you. And if you are a mother yourself don’t forget to give your kid an extra hug and kiss; the science proves that love is always good for the brain!
Happy Mother’s Day.