New Research: Parenting Brain Changes Seen in All Caregivers

Posted by Aspen Institute on October 6, 2020

We are pleased to share a bright spot in these challenging times: new research that has real potential to better support children and families with low incomes.

Infant and parent brains and bodies undergo rapid growth and transformation during the transition to parenting, presenting a unique opportunity to positively impact two generations. A new report highlights studies suggesting that parenting brain changes happen in all new primary caregivers — including fathers and non-biological parents in addition to biological mothers — in response to the caregiving role.

The research has critical implications for enabling children and families to reach their full potential, including:

• Importance of expanding new parenting supports to fathers, adoptive parents, and non-biological caregivers, in addition to mothers
• Recognition that children needs all types of caregiving (rough and tumble play and nurturing)
• Need to support new parents who have additional challenges to overcome, including trauma and added stresses

The report, authored by Drs. Pilyoung Kim and Sarah Watamura (an Ascend Fellow), Andrew Erhart, and Tiffany Phu of the University of Denver, builds on research from the first Two Open Windows report, published in 2015. (View the report: https://ascend.aspeninstitute.org/resources/two-open-windows-infant-and-parent-neurobiologic-change-2/)

Read more about the research and relevant policy and practice recommendations in the report: https://ascend.aspeninstitute.org/new-research-shows-parenting-brain-changes-in-all-caregivers/.

Check out a brief video interview below with the report authors: https://vimeo.com/442529154.