A study conducted by Emory University (USA) has shown that grandmothers treat their grandchildren differently from their own children. To explore the essence of the special bond between older and younger generations, James Rilling, professor of anthropology, psychiatry and behavioral sciences, examined the brain activity of more than 50 women - all of whom had at least one biological grandchild between the ages of 3 and 12.
This is reported by the Dr. Evin website.
The researchers invited the women to look at photographs, including both pictures of grandchildren and children and strangers of different ages. In the process, the grandmothers' brains were scanned by magnetic resonance imaging.
"When women looked at pictures of their grandchildren, they particularly activated areas of the brain that are responsible for emotional empathy," the expert said in the findings of the study, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society.
The brain of the female participants reacted differently to photographs of their own children - other areas of the organ associated with cognitive empathy were "working". That is, women worry about what their children think or feel, but it does not cause the same emotional response as in the case of grandchildren. However, it has not yet been possible to find an answer as to why this is the case.
According to one popular theory, grandmothers may spoil their grandchildren and then simply send them home, avoiding the complexities of parenting. Biologists, on the other hand, suggest that it's all about human concern for the continuation of the species and the preservation of genes - a mission that falls on the shoulders of the youngest members of the family, their parents having already done the job.
It is also recommended to read the material entitled "Fear of hearing "no" ruins life. How to get rid of it properly?".
