Name: Testicular volume is inversely correlated with nurturing-related brain activity in human fathers
Brand: pnas.org
SKU: pnas-org-281
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Testicular volume is inversely correlated with nurturing-related brain activity in human fathers

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Edited by Michael S. Gazzaniga, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, and approved August 2, 2013 (received for review March 25, 2013)Life History Theory posits a trade-off between mating and parenting effort, which may explain some of the observed variance in human fathers’ parenting behavior. The current study tested this hypothesis by measuring aspects of reproductive biology related to mating effort, as well as paternal nurturing behavior and the brain activity related to it. Both testosterone levels and testes volume were negatively correlated with paternal caregiving. In response to viewing pictures of one’s own child, brain activity in a key component of the reward and motivation system predicted paternal caregiving and was negatively related to testes volume. These results suggest that the biology of human males reflects a trade-off between mating effort and parenting effort.Despite the well-documented benefits afforded the children of invested fathers in modern Western societies, some fathers choose not to invest in their children. Why do some men make this choice? Life History Theory offers an explanation for variation in parental investment by positing a trade-off between mating and parenting effort, which may explain some of the observed variance in human fathers’ parenting behavior. We tested this hypothesis by measuring aspects of reproductive biology related to mating effort, as well as paternal nurturing behavior and the brain activity related to it. Both plasma testosterone levels and testes volume were independently inversely correlated with paternal caregiving. In response to viewing pictures of one’s own child, activity in the ventral tegmental area—a key component of the mesolimbic dopamine reward and motivation system—predicted paternal caregiving and was negatively related to testes volume. Our results suggest that the biology of human males reflects a trade-off between mating effort and parenting effort, as indexed by testicular size and nurturing-related brain function, respectively.Testicular volume predicts paternal brain activityTesticular volume predicts paternal brain activitySome key strategies can enable NGOs and universities to work together much more efficiently as they strive to achieve common goals with societal impact.Image credit: International Committee of the Red Cross/Jacob Zocherman.Better understanding the tradeoffs presented by different bioplastics should help elucidate which options, if any, are viable replacements over the long run.Image credit: G. Kale et al.The approach could one day help growers respond to environmental challenges mid-season.Image credit: Shutterstock/FotoKostic.Joe Levy shows how glaciers on Mars can reveal its climate history.A study uncovers early evidence of equestrianism in ancient China.Image credit: Jian Ma.

Edited by Michael S. Gazzaniga, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, and approved August 2, 2013 (received for review March 25, 2013)Life History Theory posits a trade-off between mating and parenting effort, which may explain some of the observed variance in human fathers’ parenting behavior. The current study tested this hypothesis by measuring aspects of reproductive biology related to mating effort, as well as paternal nurturing behavior and the brain activity related to it. Both testosterone levels and testes volume were negatively correlated with paternal caregiving. In...

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Testicular volume is inversely correlated with nurturing-related brain activity in human fathers

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