Why Babies Make Us Smile

As any parent knows, a baby can really make you smile. From their funny faces, to the unexpected sounds and thoughts they express, to their sheer cuteness with those chubby cheeks and big round eyes, babies are designed to warm your heart and light up your life - literally.

A recent study confirms that an adult's reward center in the brain lights up upon seeing a baby's face. This effect did not occur when the same adult looked at another adult's face - big surprise there :)

In the study, pictures of babies and adults unknown to the subjects were used. The scientists are planing a follow-up study to determine what reaction occurs when the subject is shown images of their own child.

Read more about the study here.