Recently an article was published in the journal Pediatrics that detailed a study supporting what parents have always known instinctively – that the smiling face of their baby brightens any day. But it may be even more than just the result of seeing a happy face. It may actually be more about biology.

Dr. Lane Strathearn, assistant professor in Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, and a developmental pediatrician at Texas Children's Hospital, helped conduct a study that showed mothers pictures of their own and other smiling infants (as well as infants with sad or neutral faces). Their responses were recorded by MRI.

"When mothers see their own baby's face, 'reward' centers of the brain are activated, similar to when a cocaine addict gets a shot of cocaine!" Dr. Strathearn says. "It's like a 'natural high' that I believe stimulates responsive care-giving behavior, and strengthens the mother-infant bond."

Mothers' brains reacted less to infants other than their own. Maybe this explains the need parents have for making their baby crack that first grin – and then striving to get it to happen again and again.

Content on this site is not a substitute for professional medical or healthcare advice, diagnosis or treatment, and may not be used for such purposes. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical question or condition. Reliance on information presented on this site is at your own risk. This site contains the opinions and views of other users. Given the interactive nature of this site, we cannot endorse, guarantee, or be responsible for the accuracy, efficacy, or veracity of any content generated by our users.