The Science of 'Dad Brain' | Darby Saxbe (Mom of 2, USC Professor & Researcher)

Startup Dad

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Dad Brain and Parental Leave

The chapter explores the concept of the default mode network in new dads, discussing enhancements in social cognition and visual recognition skills after becoming parents. It emphasizes the importance of parental leave for fathers, touching on societal views on fatherhood and the benefits of involved dads on child welfare and family relationships. The conversation also includes insights on brain development, parenting challenges, and the speaker's upcoming book 'Dad Brain'.

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Darby Saxbe is a professor at USC and holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology. Her research includes studying the effects of stress hormones in couples and most importantly the changes that the male brain undergoes after becoming a parent. She has scientifically discovered slight gray matter loss in men following fatherhood and termed it Dad Brain. She is currently writing a book about her research. She’s also a wife, musician in a Mom Band and mother of two kids! In our conversation today we discussed:

* Early influences on her scientific research

* What it was like having two kids while getting your post doc

* The neuroplasticity of the brain

* Stress hormones in couples

* How fatherhood reshapes men’s brains to make them more efficient

* Changes in the ‘default mode network’ and the visual network in new Dads

* How brain changes are different in new Dads vs. new Moms

* The implications of her research for public policy, paid family leave and the support for new parents

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Where to find Darby Saxbe

* Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darbysaxbe/

* X: https://twitter.com/Darbysaxbe

* USC: https://dornsife.usc.edu/nestlab/

Where to find Adam Fishman

* FishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupdadpod/

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In this episode, we cover:

[1:52] Welcome

[2:25] Professional background

[5:18] What was the spark for the research?

[8:26] Did having children during postdoc help shape research?

[10:08] Cortisol

[13:57] Dad brain

[25:55] Should we worry about brain shrinkage after becoming a parent?

[29:55] Brain efficiency in parenting

[31:33] Default mode and visual network for Dads

[35:43] Enhancement in social cognition

[38:06] Indifference

[40:35] Parental leave

[44:48] Darby’s book/ future research

[48:35] Advice to new parents/dads

[51:10] Follow along

[52:05] Darby’s Mom band

[54:55] Rapid fire

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Show references:

Darby’s Research: https://dornsife.usc.edu/nestlab/publications/

Prenatal prolactin predicts postnatal parenting attitudes and brain structure remodeling in first-time fathers: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306453023003104

Darby on Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=q676bXMAAAAJ

Dad Brain is Real: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/16/opinion/dad-brain-fatherhood-parenting.html?unlocked_article_code=1.0E0.biCq.04uwT7G2QN-x&smid=url-share

More on Dad Brain: https://theconversation.com/brain-study-identifies-a-cost-of-caregiving-for-new-fathers-227319

Cortical volume reductions in men transitioning to first-time fatherhood: https://academic.oup.com/cercor/article-abstract/34/4/bhae126/7645338?redirectedFrom=fulltext&login=false

USC: https://www.usc.edu/

Fulbright: https://us.fulbrightonline.org/

UK Biobank: https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/

Scrooge McDuck: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrooge_McDuck

Super Why: https://pbskids.org/superwhy/

Inside Out: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2096673/

Inside Out 2: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22022452/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Beetlejuice: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094721/

Throwing Muses: https://throwingmuses.com/

The Killers: https://www.thekillersmusic.com/

Breeders: https://www.thebreedersmusic.com/

Seven Up!: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058578/