Early Human Development
Volume 85, Issue 11 , Pages 697-700, November 2009

“The instincts of motherhood: Bringing joy back into newborn care”

Primal Health Research Centre. 72, Savernake Road, London NW3 2JR, United Kingdom

Abstract 

Although homo sapiens is equipped with subneocortical neuro-endocrine structures comparable to those of all mammals, there is no scientific curiosity about basic behaviours such as the maternal protective aggressive instinct or basic emotional states such as joy. A study of the fetus ejection reflex is an opportunity to present the rational control of the procreative drives as a by-product of human brain evolution, and to clarify the concepts of neocortical inhibitions and cultural conditioning. After referring to recent spectacular advances, we anticipate that in the near future several developing scientific disciplines will have the power to overcome the effects of thousands of years of socialisation of childbirth.

Keywords: Fetus ejection reflex, Neocortical inhibitions, Cultural conditioning, Instinct, Joy, Transcendent emotional state

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PII: S0378-3782(09)00181-9

doi:10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2009.08.053

Early Human Development
Volume 85, Issue 11 , Pages 697-700, November 2009