Mothers' Nurturing During Preschool Years Linked to Robust Brain Growth

by ParentCo. April 26, 2016

Mothers' support linked to robust growth of brain area involved in learning, memory, stress response

New research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis indicates children with supportive mothers during preschool experience a more significant increase in the volume of the hippocampus during the period from school age to adolescence.
In contrast, kids whose mothers were less supportive during the preschool years had a less steep growth trajectory, even if their mothers became more supportive later.
The researchers measured support and nurturing by monitoring and scoring videotaped interactions between mothers and their children.
Credit: Washington University School of Medicine
Washington University School of Medicine. (2016, April 25). Nurturing during preschool years boosts child's brain growth: Mothers' support linked to robust growth of brain area involved in learning, memory, stress response. ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 26, 2016 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/04/160425192812.htm



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