Parenting
By Jennifer Lane
Updated: Feb. 12, 2021
Originally Published: Jan. 6, 2018
Occasionally, my editor will share an intriguing study with me and say, “Hey, Jen, can you explore this?” I’ll glance at the title and think, “Absolutely! This is going to be exciting.” After a quick coffee boost, I dive in.
This week, however, I received a link to a study from the Journal of Neuroscience titled “Female-Specific Intergenerational Transmission Patterns of the Human Corticolimbic Circuitry.” As I sat there, sipping my coffee and gazing at the dense academic jargon, my brain was like, “Error 404, information not found.”
To be honest, I’m not a neuroscientist. However, I can navigate the depths of Google. Armed with caffeine and my research skills, I managed to unravel the complexities of this impressive study.
And let me tell you, it’s quite captivating!
The central hypothesis of this research posits that mother-daughter brains share the closest biological similarities among all intergenerational relationships. Personally, I can relate; I often feel like I’m morphing into my mother. Right from the start, this theory resonates with me. I’m fully on board.
If these researchers wanted to expedite their findings, they could simply observe my household for a while and hear me exclaim in a pronounced southern accent, “You’ll poke your eye out with that!”
The resemblance between mothers and daughters is undeniable.
However, scientists prefer empirical evidence, so they set out to test their hypothesis by analyzing brain structures in different generations using MRI scans, concentrating on the corticolimbic system. And since I lack a PhD, I had to dig a little deeper. The corticolimbic system is crucial for processing various functions, including decision-making and emotional regulation.
In summary, this study scrutinized the brain areas that influence our thoughts and feelings.
After analyzing data from 35 families, the researchers found that the corticolimbic systems of mothers and daughters showed the greatest similarities. This means that the sentiment of “OMG, I’m totally turning into my mother” is indeed grounded in reality—science backs it up.
So, the next time you find yourself tearing up at that heartwarming dog adoption commercial, you can probably attribute it to your mother. Or if you feel a surge of frustration when your hair tangles won’t brush out, guess what? You can likely trace that too back to her influence.
And it’s not just our emotional patterns that mirror our mothers. The study also shed light on predictable trends in mental health issues. According to lead researcher Fumiko Hoeft, the corticolimbic system is closely associated with depression. This means that shared brain chemistry between mothers and daughters can also help predict the younger generation’s mental health challenges.
While the sample size may seem modest, the results align with other recent studies. For instance, one published in Psychology Today found that the bond between mothers and daughters is stronger than any other parent-child relationship throughout all life stages. Another study revealed that mothers and daughters exert unique influences on one another compared to other familial connections.
Ultimately, the phrase “like mother, like daughter” transcends mere idiom. Research confirms that when it comes to the brain chemistry that shapes our thoughts, feelings, and actions, hip-hop artist Juvenile was right all along: She gets it from her mama.
This article was originally published on Jan. 6, 2018.
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In summary, the scientific evidence strongly suggests that the adage “like mother, like daughter” is validated by brain chemistry, influencing our emotions and behaviors. The bond between mothers and daughters is profound, affecting everything from emotional responses to mental health predispositions.