A study has shown that fatherhood reduces a man's brain

Neuroscientists from the USA and Spain conducted a joint study and made an unexpected discovery. It turns out that in men, after the birth of their first child, the structures of the visual cortex and the network of the passive mode of the brain change. Simply put, the brain of young dads becomes a little smaller and the balance of functions in it changes. These processes are associated with the involvement of a man in the process of caring for a child.

The materials of the scientists' work were published in the scientific journal Cerebral Cortex, dedicated to the problems of neurology. The study involved 40 men of different ages and nationalities who were preparing to become fathers. They underwent an MRI examination before the pregnancy of their partners, during, and a few months after the birth of the child. In parallel, scientists observed a group of 17 men who did not plan to become fathers.

It has long been known that positive changes in the nervous system occur in women after the birth of a baby. They change the structures of the limbic system of the brain, which is responsible for motivation and internal reward. Fathers also undergo restructuring in the cerebral cortex, affecting the visual cortex and areas associated with the network of the passive mode of the brain.

In order to understand the scale of the damage, it is worth telling about what a passive mode network of the brain is. This is a neural network of interacting parts of the brain that works when a person is relaxed, resting or immersed in his own thoughts. It works in situations where interaction with the outside world is not required.

But there is also good news for fathers. The part of the brain responsible for vision begins to function more efficiently. The area associated with visual memory works especially well. Scientists have suggested that there is a connection with the need to recognize a child and respond to it faster. Therefore, men should not be afraid of the birth of a child. Yes, they will become a little distracted, but very sharp-sighted.