Babies' cries can make humans physically hotter, study finds.
New study finds babies' distressed cries trigger emotional and physical responses in adults.
Why it matters
- Shows how humans are biologically wired to respond to infants in distress.
- Challenges stereotypes about gender differences in responding to babies' cries.
By the numbers
- The study involved 16 different cries over four sessions.
- The effect was stronger and more synchronized when babies were more distressed.
The big picture
- Both men and women respond similarly to babies' cries.
- Previous assumptions about gender differences in response to baby cries may be incorrect.
- This response is likely an evolutionary adaptation to ensure babies receive care.
What they're saying
- Some commenters note personal experiences of being more responsive to baby cries than their partners.
- Others mention that their response to baby cries changed after having children.
- A study cited in the comments found that men are as likely as women to wake up to a baby's cry, but mothers are more likely to tend to the child.
Caveats
- The study was done with volunteers who had little or no experience with babies.
- It's too early to know if there will be practical applications from this research.
What’s next
- More research could explore potential applications of these findings.
- Further studies could look at how experience with babies affects response to their cries.