A study from Emory University reveals that grandmothers may feel more emotionally connected to their grandchildren than to their own children. The research, led by Professor James Rilling, involved scanning the brains of 50 grandmothers as they viewed photos of their grandchildren, their own children, and unrelated individuals. The results showed that viewing grandchildren activated brain regions associated with emotional empathy, whereas viewing their own children engaged areas related to cognitive empathy. This indicates a deeper emotional connection with grandchildren. The study supports the “grandmother hypothesis,” which suggests that grandmothers play a crucial role in helping raise successive generations, thus enhancing the survival of their genes. Grandmothers themselves attribute their stronger feelings of joy and delight towards their grandchildren to the stress-free nature of the relationship and the ability to engage in fun activities without the responsibilities of child-rearing.
