His baby daughter melts his heart. Scientists say she's changing his brain, too.

Fathers spending more time with their newborn children doesn’t just have emotional and logistical impacts; there are physiological changes as well. In this article, author Arianna Rodriquez looks at the benefits of paternity leave, not only in terms of neurological changes but also in improving paternal behaviors, bonding, and overall family dynamics. But paid parental leave is not uniformly offered, and the Family and Medical Leave Act only guarantees unpaid, job-protected leave for eligible parents working at companies with at least 50 employees. Rodriquez cites a report from Abt indicating that financial constraints prevent many eligible individuals (about 66 percent of eligible people) from taking advantage of leave when it is available. Despite the proven advantages of paternity leave, only 11 states and the District of Columbia have implemented laws ensuring paid family and medical leave, leaving many parents without this crucial support and the benefits that can accrue from using it.