Monday, April 1, 2024

Grandma Brain

 Read about this in Good HousekeepingšŸ’—I know I have a Grandma Brain!


Grandma Brain is a not just a technical term, but there is a scientific explanation for what’s going on in our brain when we’re with our grandchildren.  Neurological research has shown that something unique happens to a grandma’s brain when she sees her grandchildren — and it may explain our intense devotion and delight. A professor at Emory University scanned the brains of 50 grandmothers while showing them photos of their grandchildren. (The study didn’t include grandfathers.) What he discovered was brain activity that, at least in part, explains the intense grandmaternal bond.  The study suggests that grandmothers are geared towards feeling what their grandchildren are feeling when they interact with them. If their grandchild is smiling, they’re feeling the child’s joy. And if their grandchild is crying, they’re feeling the child’s pain and distress.

2 comments:

DrumMajor said...

When my parents started having grandkids, my Dad (a doc) used to say that my Mom's "Granny Glands were swollen." Hoo Boy, Linda in Kansas

Far Side of Fifty said...

I have a Grandma brain too!