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

Startup Dad

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Impacts of Stress and Parenthood on Couples

The chapter delves into research on cortisol patterns in couples, highlighting the impact of family stress on biological stress patterns and the concept of stress contagion. It transitions to discussing how fatherhood affects men's brains, focusing on changes in brain structure during the transition to parenthood. The chapter also explores the concept of 'Dad Brain' where research shows that brain changes in parents, particularly fathers, may not indicate health issues but rather more efficient brain function.

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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/