This Week in Neuroscience TWiN 54: How pregnancy transforms the brain
Oct 1, 2024
Discover how pregnancy transforms the female brain, leading to significant neurobiological changes. Hormonal fluctuations cause adaptations that affect maternal behavior and caregiving. Explore the role of the default mode network in self-awareness during this period. Delve into the neurological transformations in the hippocampus and their implications for cognitive health. Learn about the effects of hormones like estrogen and oxytocin on bonding and maternal sensitivity. Also, uncover the fascinating interplay between social dynamics and stress on reproductive outcomes.
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Pregnancy Shrinks Brain Thoughtfully
- Pregnancy causes brain volume reduction by 2-5%, mainly in the cortex, not implying damage but neuroplasticity akin to adolescence.
- Hormonal fluctuations reinforce certain brain pathways while reducing others, prepping the brain for parenting.
Default Mode Network Changes Bonding
- Brain regions affected by pregnancy changes are nodes in the default mode network, involved in self-referential thinking and mind wandering.
- Changes in this network strength correlate with mother-infant bonding quality.
Understand Pregnancy Brain Adaptations
- Recognize pregnancy brain changes as neuroplastic adaptations, not deficits.
- Understand bonding and nesting behaviors relate to brain network tuning during pregnancy.