University of Oxford

Email
anna.machin@anthro.ox.ac.uk

Research interests

Anna Machin is an evolutionary anthropologist with a particular interest in the neurosciences of human relationships. More specifically, her two key areas of research are the role of the endogenous opoid system (EOS) in the maintenance of pairbonded and group level relationships and the evolution and development of the father/infant bond. Her current areas of interest include:

• The use of Positron Emission Topography (PET) to confirm a role for the EOS in the maintenance of human romantic pairbonds.
• The role for the EOS and behavioural synchrony in the maintenance of group level relationships.
• Exploring whether the kinship system is a schema which aids in the reduction of the cognitive load of kin relations, allowing the expansion of the human social network.
• Studying the neurobiology and psychology of new fatherhood with the aim of understanding the mechanisms which underpin the development of the father/infant bond.

New study of fatherhood - volunteers wanted

The University of Oxford is about to start a new project aimed at exploring the ways in which first time fathers bond with their newborns. While a lot of attention has been given to the relationship between mother and infant not much is known about how fathers bond with their baby. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that the bond between father and child is formed and maintained in many different and unique ways and that fathers play a crucial role in their child’s life. As a result we want to explore what it is that encourages a new dad to develop this key bond.

Further details here.