Taking parenting advice from rats might be a bit humbling, but sometimes it can't hurt.
In a study published this week in Public Library of Science ONE, rats placed in unfamiliar environments for three minutes a day during infancy were better-prepared as adults to deal with unexpected situations.
At first blush, the findings seem a bit superfluous -- do we really need to infer from rodent studies that a bit of horizon-widening does a developing mind good, or that infant experiences can be profoundly life-shaping? But there's more: the researchers found that better-adjusted rats tended to have mothers who cared for them consistently rather intensely.
In other words, rats with moms who lavished them with attention on one day and ignored them the next -- "Sorry I missed your game -- here's some cheese!" -- were a bit messed up. Rats whose moms paid them moderate but steady attention were stable (and, ostensibly, less needy and demanding of external validation, however that might work in rodents.)
And that seems like a good parenting lesson.
Image: Joe M500
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