New Research Suggests Growing up Without a Father Changes Brain Development
According to an article published Tuesday in the Wall Street Journal, German scientists have discovered that growing up without a father actually changes the way brains develop in a small guinea pig-like rodent known as the Degus. Researchers studying Degu brain development found that Degu raised in single parent families have shorter nerve branches than those raised in two parent households. The pups raised by single parents also exhibited more aggressive and impulsive behavior than those raised by two parents. They lacked impulse control, and “when they played with their siblings, they engaged in more play-fighting and or aggressive behavior.”
The researchers noted that while the pups raised in single parent families received about the same amount of attention from their single caregiver as they did in two parent families, overall attention was significantly less for the single parent pups. The researchers urged caution, however, in extrapolating these findings to human children, as human thinking and decision making is more complex.
Going forward, researchers intend to focus their energies on determining whether the pups brains can be “rewired” by introducing substitute caregivers to help repair the damage. The research was published in the Journal of Neuroscience. The article is titled, “This Is Your Brain Without Dad.” It was written by Shirley S. Wang.
The researchers noted that while the pups raised in single parent families received about the same amount of attention from their single caregiver as they did in two parent families, overall attention was significantly less for the single parent pups. The researchers urged caution, however, in extrapolating these findings to human children, as human thinking and decision making is more complex.
Going forward, researchers intend to focus their energies on determining whether the pups brains can be “rewired” by introducing substitute caregivers to help repair the damage. The research was published in the Journal of Neuroscience. The article is titled, “This Is Your Brain Without Dad.” It was written by Shirley S. Wang.
Posted by Robert Gadtke at 10/28/2009 3:44 PM 
Categories: News
Tags: Single Parents Single Families Fathers Rights Custody Fathers Parenting Time Child Custody
Categories: News
Tags: Single Parents Single Families Fathers Rights Custody Fathers Parenting Time Child Custody
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