Why do newborns smile?

Researchers believe that these earliest smiles represent the pleasure of the baby recognizing an object (such as Mommy or Daddy) [2]. By two months, infants begin to develop the smile that communicates their emotional experience of pleasure and contentment.

drpitner.com - What Makes Babies Smile: The Science Behind Your Smile Part3

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What Makes Babies Smile: The Science Behind Your Smile Part 3

We love to make babies smile!

The smile of a baby is one of the most coveted smiles. We will make ridiculous faces and noises, dance, sing, or stand on our heads to get a baby to smile. And when the baby smiles, we are absolutely sure that it is an true reflection of how likeable we are and how smart that baby is. But what does a baby’s smile really mean? And when do human smiles begin?

Infants begin to smile within the very first few weeks of life. The earliest smiles occur during active sleep (a type of sleep unique to babies when much of the brain is activated) and, during the first month, babies will most often smile when sleepy in response to a high-pitched sound (strange, but true) [1]. Babies who are blind have this same pattern of development, providing good evidence that the smile is hard-wired. After the first month, however, an infant begins to smile in response to what they see, and what babies like to see most are faces! Researchers believe that these earliest smiles represent the pleasure of the baby recognizing an object (such as Mommy or Daddy) [2]. By two months, infants begin to develop the smile that communicates their emotional experience of pleasure and contentment. From age two to six months, infants smile more and more often, frequently in response to interaction with a parent or caregiver.

Do babies have the same smiles as adults?

Babies have the same range of types of smiles as adults. They make the Duchenne smile and also the social smile. Do these smiles differ in meaning in the same way as they do in adults? For babies, does the authentic smile indicate happiness while the social smile is doesn’t? It seems that we learn very early to use the social smile. In ten-month-old babies, the Duchenne smile is displayed in response to the smile of their mothers, while babies give a social smile to a stranger. When babies make an authentic smile, the left frontal part of their brains was activated, the same part of the brain that is activated when adults experience happiness [3]. The Duchenne smile appears to be a clear expression of joy and engagement in play with other babies and adults [2]. Babies very quickly develop their own typical facial expressions. By six months old, some babies smile more and some less. These differences seem to be related to the baby’s temperament and affective style [4]. The patterns of individual facial movement, however, are similar in families and appear to be inherited. In a study of congenitally blind adults, researchers compared their facial expressions to those of their family members [5]. They found that the facial expressions of the blind family member were very similar to those of a parent or sibling both in appearance and frequency. It is clear that babies come into this world wired to smile!

References

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Why are MRI machines never turned off?

Because an MRI machine requires so much energy, it saves on overall power usage by leaving the magnet running all the time, rather than constantly turning it on and off everyday. Therefore the magnet is always on! The electricity flows through miles and miles of tightly wound wires (or coils) inside the MRI machine.

blog.cincinnatichildrens.org - What is MRI? - Cincinnati Children's Blog

MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, is a way to take detailed pictures of the body using powerful magnets. Unlike other forms of imaging (such as X-ray, CT, and fluoroscopy), there is no ionizing radiation emitted from the MRI machine. In order to create the magnetic field to take your pictures, we need to use a ton of electricity. Because an MRI machine requires so much energy, it saves on overall power usage by leaving the magnet running all the time, rather than constantly turning it on and off everyday. Therefore the magnet is always on! The electricity flows through miles and miles of tightly wound wires (or coils) inside the MRI machine. When the electricity runs through the machine, this causes the wires to begin to vibrate, giving off those loud banging and buzzing noises that your child will hear while being scanned. The electricity moving through those wires gives off a magnetic field. The MRI technologists are able to manipulate the different frequencies emitted by the magnetic field to match frequencies in our bodies. Since hydrogen molecules are present in almost every organ of the body, we match the frequency of our machine with the frequency of our hydrogen molecules. The two frequencies now resonate together, hence the name magnetic resonance imaging. When the frequencies of your child’s body and the magnetic field are in sync, we are able to collect data and form that data into pictures of your child’s internal organs.

Tips for your child’s MRI visit:

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