The Science of Dad Brain: How Fatherhood Changes Men Forever
About this episode
This episode explores how fatherhood changes men's brains and addresses the mental health challenges new dads face.
Postpartum depression isn't just for moms. Dr. Darby Saxbe explores why new dads struggle, identifies the often unrecognized signs, and demystifies the science of paternal mental health. Did you know that "dad brain" is a scientifically proven biological shift? Recent brain science shows that fatherhood literally changes and rewires men's brains--but unlike maternal shifts, a father's brain adapts primarily through the lived experience of hands-on caregiving. In this episode of Raising Good Humans, world-renowned researcher Dr. Darby Saxbe joins host Dr. Aliza Pressman to expose the hidden mental health crisis in new dads that modern culture completely ignores. 🦋We discuss: The neuroscience of fatherhood: How caregiving rewires a dad's brain to filter out distractions and focus on the baby. Postpartum depression in men: What the signs look like and why it so often goes unrecognized. "Maternal gatekeeping": How well-meaning moms accidentally shut dads out of the process. The truth about paternity leave and why modern isolation is breaking the "village." A fascinating look at why parenting is neuroprotective (and linked to a younger-looking brain later in life). We also tackle a…
People in this episode
Host: Dr. Aliza Pressman
Guest: Dr. Darby Saxbe
Topics covered
- fatherhood
- mental health
- postpartum depression
- neuroscience
- caregiving
- paternity leave
Keywords
- dad brain
- paternal mental health
- maternal gatekeeping
- neuroprotective parenting
- perinatal mental health
Sponsors
Uresta
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