In general, humans tend to show neural synchrony when they talk, play or sing together. And it has long been recognised that when mothers and their small children play together, their neural activity becomes synchronised.
New research shows that this process takes place between mothers and children even when they are not interacting in their native language, showing that this brain-bonding process is effectively translated along with their thoughts.
By studying mothers and their children at play, first in their native language, and then in another language, and measuring their neural activity, the researchers showed that brain synchrony occurred in either language, as compared to when mothers and children played separately.
The implications of this research are considerable. Parents in bilingual relationships, for example, often acquire their second language later in life, and worry that they will not be able to interact with their children on as emotional a level as the parent using their mother tongue. In fact, the children will experience brain synchrony regardless of the language or languages their parents use with them, and whether or not they are fluent in those languages.
And, of course, motherly love is the ultimate universal language!
Photo Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/selective-focus-photo-of-woman-lifting-child-during-daytime-Wr3HGvx_RSM
