10.5061/DRYAD.4QRFJ6Q76
Matsunaga, Michiko
0000-0002-0316-3839
Kyoto University
Kikusui, Takefumi
Azabu University
Mogi, Kazutaka
Azabu University
Nagasawa, Miho
Azabu University
Ooyama, Rumi
Azabu University
Myowa, Masako
Kyoto University
Breastfeeding dynamically changes endogenous oxytocin levels and emotion
recognition in mothers
Dryad
dataset
2020
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
https://ror.org/00hhkn466
24119005 to M. Myo.
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
https://ror.org/00hhkn466
17H01016 to M. Myo.
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
https://ror.org/00hhkn466
19K21813 to M. Myo.
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
https://ror.org/00hhkn466
19J15173 to M. M.
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
https://ror.org/00hhkn466
JPMJCE1307 to M. Myo
Mayekawa Houonkai Foundation
https://ror.org/05qkcsb49
2015-2017 to M. Myo
2020-08-08T00:00:00Z
2020-08-08T00:00:00Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2020.0139
33947 bytes
3
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Breastfeeding behaviors can significantly change mothers’ physiological
and psychological states. The hormone oxytocin may mediate breastfeeding
and mothers’ emotion recognition. This study examined the effects of
endogenous oxytocin fluctuation via breastfeeding on emotion recognition
in 51 primiparous mothers. Saliva oxytocin was assessed before and after
the manipulation (breastfeeding or holding an infant), and emotion
recognition tasks were conducted. Among mothers who breastfed daily,
mothers with more increased levels of oxytocin after breastfeeding showed
greater reduced negative recognition and enhanced positive recognition of
adult facial expressions. These oxytocin functions accompanying
breastfeeding may support continued nurturing behaviors and also affect
the general social cognition of other adults beyond any specific effect on
infants.
We analyzed 51 primiparous mothers’ data. All participants continued
breastfeeding their 2-to-9-month-old infants during the study period. None
reported currently having any psychiatric disorders or taking any
medication. After the informed consent, we provided a 15-minute
get-acquainted period during which mothers did not touch their infants.
Then we collected saliva samples, conducted a questionnaire about affect,
and conducted two emotion recognition tasks twice, both before and after
the manipulation. During the manipulation phase, participants either
breastfed or held their infants for 15 minutes. We randomly assigned our
participants to either of the two conditions (breastfeeding or holding)
and informed them of the same in advance. Finally, the mothers completed
all the remaining questionnaires. Since mothers conducted the experiment
alone in the sound proof room, fathers and grandmothers of the infants
also joined the experiment to care for the infants along with our research
assistant. All of the emotion recognition task performances were
subtracted pre manipulation scores from post manipulation scores.