Doctors Studied How Babies Feel Pain—the Results Were Surprising
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A new University College London study reveals that a newborn's response to pain is more complex and less conscious than previously thought.
Researchers have discovered that while premature babies can physically feel pain, they lack the emotional and cognitive capacity to fully interpret or understand it—an insight that could reshape how neonatal care is approached in hospitals around the world.
"Pain is a complex experience with physical, emotional and cognitive elements," said lead author and neuroscientist professor Lorenzo Fabrizi in a statement.
Little infant tired and hungry, start crying standing in crib, looking aside at empty space
Little infant tired and hungry, start crying standing in crib, looking aside at empty space
Prostock-Studio
In adults, pain processing involves a network of brain regions known as the 'pain connectome', where each part contributes to different aspects of the pain experience.
"In newborn babies, this network is underdeveloped, which could mean that pain experience in newborns is totally different from the way we, as adults, understand it," Fabrizi explained.
In their study, the researchers used advanced MRI data from more than 370 preterm and full-term infants—some as early as 32 weeks gestation—to analyze how the brain's pain connectome forms over time.
This network of brain regions, responsible for sensing, reacting to and cognitively evaluating pain, matures in stages with different components developing at different points before and after birth.
Fabrizi and his colleagues focused on three major components of pain processing: Sensory-discriminative (identifying where and how intense the pain is), affective-motivational (the emotional response to pain) and cognitive-evaluative (interpreting and understanding the meaning of pain).
Their findings suggest that the ability to simply feel pain—the sensory-discriminative network—begins to resemble adult levels of connectivity between 34 and 36 weeks after conception, but the emotional and interpretive responses lag behind.
At around 36 to 38 weeks, the affective-motivational network matures, allowing infants to recognize pain as unpleasant or threatening.
However, the cognitive-evaluative network—responsible for contextualizing or "understanding" pain—doesn't reach adult-like maturity until well beyond 42 weeks, meaning even full-term newborns aren't fully capable of interpreting pain experiences.
"These results challenge assumptions about the completeness of infant pain perception and raise new concerns about how pain is managed in neonatal care," Fabrizi said.
The study builds on earlier findings by the same research team who reported in 2023 that premature babies don't habituate to repeated pain, such as from medical procedures. In essence, their brain does not "adjust" or reduce its response to ongoing painful stimuli.
The new research helps explain why. Without mature cognitive or emotional pain-processing systems, premature infants may feel the same pain repeatedly without developing coping mechanisms or psychological resilience.
"Our results suggest that preterm babies may be particularly vulnerable to painful medical procedures during critical stages of brain development," Fabrizi said.
This emphasizes the importance of informed pediatric care, including tailored pain management and carefully timed medical interventions, he concluded.
Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about neuroscience? Let us know via science@newsweek.com.
Reference
Jones, L., Batalle, D., Meek, J., Edwards, A. D., Fitzgerald, M., Arichi, T., & Fabrizi, L. (2022). Differential maturation of the brain networks required for the sensory, emotional, and cognitive aspects of pain in human newborns. PAIN. https://doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003619
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
11 hours ago
- Newsweek
Chimpanzee Communication Patterns Shaped by Mothers, Study Finds
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Human's closest living relatives, Chimpanzees, primarily learn their communicative patterns from their mothers and maternal relatives, according to a new study. Newsweek has reached out to the study's lead author for comment via email on Saturday. Why It Matters Humans and chimpanzees share an overwhelming majority of their DNA, a similarity that makes chimpanzees important for studying human biology, evolution, and behavior. The study finds that key aspects of chimpanzees' communication are shaped by social learning and interactions rather than strictly genetics, emphasizing the power of maternal influence. Since humans also learn communication behaviors from those they interact with most, the study's findings suggest this trait may date back to the common ancestor of both species nearly 8 million years ago. What To Know A study published this month in the PLOS Biology journal, found that young chimps mainly learn various vocal and visual patterns of communication from their mothers and maternal relatives. Over months, researchers observed around 60 chimps in Kibale National Park in Uganda. Chimpanzee mothers are the primary caregivers for their young until about age 10, providing what researchers describe as a "social template." The study found "variation in the number of vocal–visual combinations produced per communicative event in chimpanzees is predicted by maternal kinship, with individuals from the same matriline producing similar numbers of vocal–visual combinations to each other," noting that their patterns were not explained by their fathers or any paternal family members. A study last November found that chimp's social behavior is "contagious," meaning they are likely to mimic behavior of those around them. Studies often show how closely linked chimps and humans are, with a May study reporting on wild chimps self-medicating their wounds with plants as well as providing medical aid to other chimps in need. Several chimpanzees at the Barcelona Zoo are seen on August 5. Several chimpanzees at the Barcelona Zoo are seen on August 5. Europa Press via AP What People Are Saying Joseph Mine, lead researcher and a biologist at the University of Rennes in France, told NPR: "This fact that we acquire parts of our communication socially seems to be potentially a very ancient trait — a feature of our lineage for several million years." Cat Hobaiter, a primatologist at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, told NPR: "We're seeing such similarities across the ape species. My bet is that we would see something similar in gorillas and orangutans. Then we're talking about something that might be 16, 17 million years old — so long before humans were human, apes were learning socially from each other."
Newsweek
20 hours ago
- Newsweek
The Psychology Behind 'Mom Guilt'—And How To Let It Go
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Parenting expert and clinical psychologist Dr. Becky Kennedy says the crushing self-doubt many mothers carry isn't just a side effect of modern parenting—it is a learned mindset that can be unlearned. In her appearance on Jay Shetty's On Purpose podcast this week, Dr. Becky, as she is best known on social media, spoke candidly about "mom guilt," describing it not as a moral failing but as a signal—one that can guide us toward healthier patterns if we listen to it differently. "Guilt is often our brain's way of telling us we've violated our own values," Dr. Becky said. "But, sometimes, it's actually just telling us we've violated someone else's expectation of us, and those aren't the same thing." Stock image: A toddler girl with anxiety is supported and hugged by her mom. Stock image: A toddler girl with anxiety is supported and hugged by her mom. PeopleImages Dr. Becky, who is also the founder of Good Inside, a global parenting and mental-health platform, said that, in today's world—where parenting is more public than ever—many mothers feel they are constantly on trial. Social-media feeds fuel comparison, while cultural narratives set impossible benchmarks for what a "good mother" should be. The result is a constant hum of self-criticism, even when mothers are doing just fine. "If we can pause and ask ourselves, 'Is this guilt coming from my values or someone else's?' We can start to reframe it," Dr. Becky told Shetty. "When it's about my values, guilt can lead to meaningful change. When it's about someone else's, it's just noise." Christina Muller is a licensed workplace mental health expert with postgraduate training in maternal mental health. She told Newsweek that Dr. Becky's distinction is crucial. "As a workplace mental health expert and a mother, I've seen 'mom guilt' firsthand," Muller said. "While it's easy to label it that way, what's often happening is the clash between societal standards and the reality of mothering in an increasingly disconnected yet hyperconnected world." Muller added that much of the emotional confusion comes from valuing performance over quality. "Whether you work at home or outside of it, moments of connection can still happen and leave a lasting impact," Muller said. "We're juggling more balls than ever, but the one we never let drop is what matters most." Both Dr. Becky and Muller point to decades of attachment research showing that children thrive with what is known as "good enough" parenting—a caregiver who is present, attuned and responsive most of the time, rather than perfectly so. "We don't demand perfection in other areas of life, yet we often expect it from mothers," Muller said. "You can have it all, but not all in the same place—and we should be talking about that more." From a clinical perspective, Muller added that persistent mom guilt is often tied to perfectionistic traits and what she calls "performance-over-presence thinking"—measuring yourself by how much you do rather than the quality of your presence. Healthy self-reflection, she said, comes from curiosity rather than judgment, and from asking: "How can I be present right now?" Muller recommended evidence-based strategies such as countering all-or-nothing thinking, taking value-based action and creating small, consistent moments of child-led connection. "Invite your child to take the lead on an activity, and let them choose any topic to talk about without interruption," Muller said. Research shows that these moments build autonomy, strengthen the parent-child bond, and advance long-term emotional regulation, she added. Muller urged mothers to view self-care as essential to parenting well. "If you keep investing in your children over time, you'll see the long-term returns," she said. "And, just as in finance, take some of those dividends and reinvest in yourself."
Newsweek
a day ago
- Newsweek
When It's Not Just a Tantrum: The Subtle Signs of OCD in Toddlers
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. To most parents, a toddler's insistence on the "right" plate or bedtime routine seems like a normal developmental quirk or just the latest cause of a meltdown. However, for some children, these behaviors may be an early sign of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a condition often thought to affect only older children or adults. "OCD is characterized by the presence of obsessions—persistent, unwanted, distressing … thoughts—and compulsions are repetitive behaviors that one engages in to resolve the distress," clinical child psychologist Dr. Kendra Read, Ph.D., told Newsweek. "For very young children, it can be difficult to tease apart what is typical from what's concerning, because many toddlers naturally prefer sameness or repetition," Read said. Stock image: A crying boy sits in a high chair with cereal puree on a plate. Stock image: A crying boy sits in a high chair with cereal puree on a plate. ~UserGI15613517 How Early Can OCD Appear? While OCD most often emerges between ages 8 and 12 or during late adolescence, the International OCD Foundation says that it can be diagnosed in preschool-aged children. Research published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry estimates that about 1 to 3 percent of children and adolescents have OCD, with early-onset cases sometimes appearing before age 5. Read, who is also the vice president of Therapy at Brightline, said the key to distinguishing OCD from typical toddler behavior lies in three factors: Distress: how upset the child becomes when they can't perform the behavior. Impairment: whether it interferes with daily activities—for the child or the family. Persistence: whether symptoms have lasted for weeks or months. For example, a bedtime ritual that stretches beyond an hour must be restarted if steps are "wrong," and causes significant upset if interrupted may be more than just a habit. Other red flags include excessive washing, and avoidance of certain toys or places due to fears and rituals that seem illogical or disconnected from the situation. The Role of Parents and Environment Parental "accommodation"—structuring the household to prevent a child's distress—can unintentionally reinforce compulsive behaviors. "Essentially, this means structuring the world in a way to do things OCD's way: [for example], always getting a new fork or plate when requested related to concerns about contamination; performing a bedtime ritual the same way to the point that it becomes a multi-hour experience," Read said. In some cases, the child may not be very distressed, but the parents are exhausted from living life by OCD's rules, she added. Family history matters, too: OCD and anxiety often run in families, and temperamental similarities can make certain behaviors more likely to emerge. What Parents Can Do Even without a formal diagnosis, parents can start supporting their child by acknowledging feelings ("I can see this makes you feel worried"); giving the anxiety a nickname ("Worry Monster"); and gently encouraging small steps that go against the compulsion—always in a safe context. "For preschool-aged kids, I like to draw out a quick adventure map on a piece of paper that has bravery stops along the way and a treasure chest—usually a trip to the ice-cream place—at the end," Read said. "You know your kid best, including what motivates them." If concerns persist, Read recommended a professional evaluation, which typically involves caregiver interviews, teacher input and behavioral observations. Evidence-based treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with exposure and response prevention (ERP) have been shown to be highly effective, even in young children. "OCD and anxiety disorders are not lifetime disorders," Read said. "Given the support of effective intervention … even if your child meets criteria at one point, the goal for treatment is … to get to the point where they no longer meet criteria with supportive, evidence-based intervention."
