Student Article

Have you ever seen a puppy and thought, “Aww, so cute!”? Your brain agrees!

Your brain reacts to cuteness

Our brains are wired to notice cute things like puppies, kittens, and babies. A special part of your brain quickly lights up when you see big eyes, round faces, and chubby cheeks. These baby-like features make us want to care for and protect what we see.

Brain scans show why we find babies cute

Scientists used brain scans to learn how we react when we see a baby. They found that looking at a baby makes two parts of our brain work: one helps us recognize faces, and the other helps us feel emotions. This happens super fast, even before we realize it!

Why puppies are sometimes cuter than babies

But guess what? Puppies and kittens often score even higher than babies on a “cuteness scale.” They’ve been bred by humans to look more like babies — with big eyes, small noses, and soft faces. That’s why we love looking at them so much.

It's not just about what you see

And it’s not just how they look. A baby’s laugh or even its smell can make your brain feel happy and warm inside. Men and women both react the same — even if some don’t admit it!

Cuteness in pop culture

Even cartoon characters like Baby Yoda are made to look extra cute on purpose. So next time you go “aww,” remember — your brain is just doing its job!

© Thomas Ling / Our Media