The neuroscience of a mother’s voice

May 22, 2025

In a few days, 10x Your Mind turns 3! 🥳

If you’ve been here from the start, the very first edition landed in your inbox on 26-May-2022. That date wasn’t random—I chose it because it’s my mom’s birthday. This year, she turns 70. ❤️

She’s the most active, positive, and vibrant member of our clan—which includes toddlers and infants, by the way. From her daily walks and Wordle streak to her Bollywood playlists (equal love for Shammi Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal), she lives with an energy I deeply admire. And if guests arrive unannounced? She can still whip up a lavish meal in 20 minutes flat.

I often think: I want to meet life with that kind of attitude—no matter how grim things feel. So in honor of my mom, this week’s edition is about a superpower she’s always had—her voice.

Let’s dive in.

What if your mother’s voice could change your hormones?

We already know how important a mother’s touch is for a newborn. Physical closeness—skin-to-skin contact—has been shown to release oxytocin, a hormone that enables connection and reduces stress.

But what about voice?

Can a mother’s voice, without any physical touch, have the same effect?

Researchers from the University of Wisconsin–Madison decided to find out.

The study

61 girls (ages 7–12) and their mothers took part in a clever experiment:

The girls went through a controlled stress test, which consisted of public speaking and math tasks.

Afterwards, they were split into three groups:

Physical contact: They were comforted by their moms with hugs, touch, and warm words.
Voice only: They heard their mom’s voice on the phone—but couldn’t see or touch them.
No Contact: They had no contact at all and watched a neutral film.

Researchers then measured two key hormones at various points:

Cortisol – a biological marker of stress.
Oxytocin – the “bonding” hormone that helps us feel calm and connected.

The findings

As expected, girls who were hugged and soothed in person had lower stress (less cortisol) and higher connection (more oxytocin).

But here’s the beautiful finding:

📞 Girls who only heard their mother’s voice showed nearly identical hormonal changes.

Their oxytocin levels rose, and their stress hormones dropped—just like in the full-contact group.

In contrast, the no-contact group had lower oxytocin and higher stress throughout.

So what?

Hormones aren’t just chemical trivia—they shape how we feel, behave, and connect.

Cortisol fuels our stress response.
Oxytocin calms us down and strengthens trust and bonding.

This study suggests that a loving voice alone can be a powerful form of emotional regulation—triggering the same physiological comfort as a physical embrace.

It’s something most of us already feel to be true. Now, science backs it up.

The takeaway

Movies and TV shows often portray calling your mom as a chore—a “task” you do because she needs you.

Science says otherwise.

Especially in the midst of our busy, scattered lives, a simple phone call can do what a hug does—release oxytocin, lower stress, and restore a sense of connection.

Just hearing your mom’s voice over the phone can shift your day from…

gloomy to calm
overwhelmed to okay
problematic to fixable

…and from “I’m stuck” to “I’ve got this.”

The next time you call your mom, remember—it might actually be more for you than for her.

Happy birthday, Mom. 🥳

Here’s to your voice, your warmth, and your way of meeting life with open arms. 💙