Monday, July 7th, 2008...5:03 pm

Seeing photo of baby’s smile gives mom a high

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baby.jpg

The soft, round cheeks. The dimpled hands that clutch at your finger. The sweet, warm smell of their heads.

Most mothers agree that the sight of their babies can be intoxicating, or even addictive. A new study from the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston explains the neurological roots of maternal bonding.

In a study of 28 first-time moms, seeing pictures of their babies’ smiles activated parts of the brain involved in rewarding certain behaviors — such as finding food, water or a mate — that are vital to human survival. These regions of the brain are associated with a signaling hormone called dopamine. Mothers looking at their babies smile experience a surge of dopamine — or a chemical rush.

At iMemories, since the day we started our work, we have observed similar behavior with our customers. We marveled at the strong emotional impact our customers experienced when their personal memories where brought to life via shared home movies and photos. Studies like this confirm just how powerful and fantastic this experience can be.

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