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breastfeeding

·June 3, 2025·3 min read

AI Links Early Life Risks to Behavioral Challenges at Age Five

A new study reveals that emotional and behavioral difficulties in five-year-old children can be predicted using prenatal and early-life risk factors, including maternal smoking, low birth weight, and lack of breastfeeding. Researchers used AI to analyze data from nearly 6,000 UK children, uncovering gender-specific vulnerabilities—boys were more impacted by smoking during pregnancy, while girls were more affected by early fussiness.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 6, 2025·6 min read

Ultra-Processed Foods Disrupt Infant Gut Health

A Brazilian study of 728 infants found that ultra-processed foods can harm gut microbiota diversity, with stronger effects in children who were not breastfed. Breastfed infants had higher levels of beneficial Bifidobacterium, while non-breastfed children consuming processed products showed elevated levels of bacteria linked to obesity and gastrointestinal issues.

Featured Neuroscience

·December 14, 2023·7 min read

Breastfeeding’s Brain Boost: Mixed Feeding Still Benefits Infants

New research reveals that partial breastfeeding, alongside formula feeding, positively impacts infant brain development. This study, focusing on the "fecal metabolome" or gut metabolites, found distinct differences between exclusively breastfed and formula-fed infants.

Featured Neuroscience

·September 20, 2023·5 min read

How Infant Cries Activate Mother’s Nursing Response

A new study unveils the brain mechanism in rodents behind a mother's quick response to her newborn's cry by releasing breast milk. The research reveals that a baby's wail triggers the release of the hormone oxytocin, facilitating lactation.

Featured Neuroscience Neuroscience Videos

·September 3, 2023·2 min read

Top 5 Neuroscience Discoveries of the Week – September 3, 2023

This week in neuroscience, we've seen groundbreaking advancements ranging from a diet that can potentially extend lifespan without calorie restriction, to a new drug that could revolutionize obesity treatment.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 13, 2023·4 min read

Breast Milk Component Boosts Infant Brain Connectivity

Researchers have discovered that myo-inositol, a small cyclic sugar molecule found in breast milk, plays a crucial role in promoting neuronal connections in infants' brains. Prior studies indicated the cognitive benefits of breast milk but were unclear about the specific components responsible.

This shows a woman breastfeeding her child

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 20, 2023·5 min read

Exposure to Alcohol Through Breastmilk Affects Brain and Behavioral Development

Exposure to alcohol through a mother's breastmilk can have serious and lasting implications for brain and behavioral development in children. Researchers found alcohol exposure via breastmilk resulted in smaller body and brain growth and decreased cortical length in mouse models.

This shows a mom breastfeeding her newborn

Featured Neuroscience

·April 7, 2023·5 min read

Breast and Mixed-Fed Babies Found to Be at Lower Risk of Learning Disabilities

Babies who are exclusively breastfed or consume a mixed diet of breast and formula milk during the first 8 weeks of life are at lower risk of having learning disabilities compared to those who are exclusively bottle-fed, a new study reports.

Featured Neuroscience

·February 28, 2023·4 min read

Breast Milk Boosts Premature Babies’ Brain Development

In babies born preterm, the cerebral cortex, a brain area associated with learning and cognition is often underdeveloped. In preterm babies fed larger quantities of breastmilk, the cerebral cortex resembled those of babies born full term. Researchers say breastfeeding could help to reduce learning and behavioral deficits associated with preterm birth.

This is a cartoon of a woman breastfeeding

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·July 16, 2022·5 min read

Maternal Milk Tied to Better School-Age Outcomes for Children Born Preterm

Preterm babies who were fed maternal milk during and after a stay in NICU had greater academic achievement, higher IQs, and reduced risk of ADHD than their preterm peers who were not fed maternal milk.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·May 25, 2022·4 min read

Breastfeeding Duration Associated With Cognition

Longer breastfeeding duration was associated with increased scores in cognitive tests in children from 5 to 14 years of age.

This shows a woman breastfeeding her baby

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 9, 2022·3 min read

Effects of Breastfeeding on Maternal Mental Health

A new systemic review concludes a positive association between breastfeeding and overall maternal mental health. The study found women who breastfeed have a significantly decreased risk of postpartum depression.