The Therapy Edit One Thing with Dr Tara Swart on neuroplasticity, oxytocin and the parenting love bubble
8 snips
Oct 6, 2023 
In this episode, Dr. Tara Swart, a neuroscientist and MIT Sloan senior lecturer, unpacks the power of neuroplasticity in personal and professional reinvention. She reveals how parents can positively shape their children’s brains through mindfulness and understanding emotional regulation. Tara discusses the oxytocin-driven 'love bubble' that protects new parents and shares practical tips for boosting oxytocin to enhance bonding. She also explores the significance of early touch and integrative practices for resilience, connecting modern neuroscience with Indigenous wisdom.
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The 'Love Bubble' Protects New Parents
- New parents are neurochemically protected by a 'love bubble' driven by high oxytocin around childbirth and breastfeeding.
- This protection helps explain why parents do not have higher dementia rates despite sleep disruption.
Neuroplasticity Counters Epigenetic Risks
- Neuroplasticity allows you to change your brain at any age and buffer inherited stress patterns.
- Epigenetics means children inherit gene expression around conception, but plasticity lets parents alter future outcomes.
Actively Lower Cortisol For Brain Health
- Reduce cortisol where possible because oxytocin and cortisol act like a seesaw and cortisol harms neurons.
- Use the love bubble awareness to prioritise stress-management for you and a calmer environment for your baby.
