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19th February 2022
08:18am GMT

An MRI recorded the areas of the brain that activated in the fathers-to-be. The men also provided blood samples to show their oxytocin levels.
Three months postpartum, the men returned for a questionnaire on parenting philosophy.
The men whose brains showed more activation in areas linked to social interaction and the ability to predict needs or interpret behaviour reportedly had a more empathetic parenting style.
Those with the same brain activation also had higher levels of oxytocin in their blood.
These fathers generally reported having a parenting style focused on interpreting their baby's needs, and having more physical closeness with their baby.