Brains of Gay Male Parents React Similar to New Mums and Dads: Survey
Brain activities in homosexual male parents are similar to that of new mums and dads, finds a study.
Many child adoption agencies in the U.S. do not allow gay couples to adopt. Recently, neuropsychologists found the brains of gay men can adapt to parenthood and develop sensitivity to emotional cues like crying of a child due to hormonal changes. These brain triggered reactions are similar to that of women who have given birth and embraced motherhood, reports the Daily Mail.
Experts from the Bar-Ilan University and other institutes recorded videos of 89 new mothers and fathers looking after their children at home. They measured parents' brain activity while they watched the video clippings of other children and footage of the ones taken at their home. It was observed that 20 mothers who took part in the trial had five times increased activation in the amydgala, an emotion processing region of the brain. While, in 21 heterosexual fathers the scans revealed higher activity in cognitive circuits that are receptive to body language and non-verbal cues.
The study also evaluated 48 gay men whose brains exhibited both reactions of mothers and fathers suggesting they were capable of assuming both parental roles. These participants were able to gauge their children's needs and understand when they were most likely to scream or need a diaper change by watching the videos. Furthermore, the researchers noted no difference in the levels of oxytocin, a bonding hormone in subjects from all three groups proving that gay men are biologically equipped for parenting.
"Fathers' brains are very plastic," said Ruth Feldman, study author from the Bar-Ilan University, reports the Time.
"When there are two fathers, their brains must recruit both networks, the emotional and cognitive, for optimal parenting."
The study results may influence some change in the adoption system favoring gay parents to adopt and raise children.
More information is available online in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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