There's been plenty of research done on how women's brains change before and after pregnancy, but much less on how the brain changes during pregnancy. Now, a study published in the journal Nature Neuroscience is giving researchers more insight between conception and birth.
Liz Chrastil, a neuroscientist at UC Irvine, made the bold decision to have her brain scanned every few weeks throughout her entire pregnancy to observe the changes. This brave endeavor provided the closest look yet at the development of the maternal brain, leading researchers to describe the data collected as astounding.
Emily Jacobs, the study's senior author and associate professor of psychological and brain sciences at UC Santa Barbara, explained the significance of this research. She pointed out, "Think about it, we have beautiful maps of the fetal brain going up to about 20 weeks gestation, and those require MRI scans... Scientists just didn't bother to move the bore of the MRI scanner down two feet to see what was happening to mom's brain." This realization opened the door to much-needed exploration of the mother's brain during pregnancy.
What did the imaging reveal? Quite remarkably, the brain undergoes what Jacobs described as "choreographed change" during gestation. This process involved noticeable changes including the loss of volume and the enduring effects of these transformations, some persisting even two years after giving birth.
Jacobs made comparisons to changes seen during puberty and noted, "It's not unlike the cortical thinning we see during puberty. We believe these adaptive processes enable the brain to become more specialized." Indeed, as hormonal changes occur, so too does the structure of the brain, which appears to fine-tune itself for motherhood.
Alongside these findings about volume loss was the acknowledgment of other brain changes. For example, researchers noted significant cortical thinning and the enhancement of white matter processing pathways. White matter, which comprises approximately 60% of the brain, plays a major role in facilitating communication within the brain and enhances information processing.
One of the eye-opening aspects of this study involved the notion of 'mommy brain'—a term often colloquially used to describe phenomena such as forgetfulness and mental fog among parents. Despite the name, what's important to note is these changes should not necessarily be viewed negatively. Jacobs commented on the potential upside, stating, "New studies indicate women who've been pregnant often possess younger-looking brains later in life, compared to peers who haven’t had children."
The correlations between hormonal changes and brain restructuring are monumental. For example, during normal pregnancy, there's a surge of progesterone—an influential hormone responsible for brain circuit rewiring. This surge enhances the individual's sensitivity to stimuli, which is particularly relevant for caregiving behaviors like nurturing and protection.
This evolution doesn’t only happen for biological mothers. Jacobs clarified, "Parental behavior occurs all the time in non-gestational mothers, adoptive parents, grandparents, fathers, and individuals who don't experience gestation firsthand but still exhibit nurturing behaviors." It's clear this adaptation extends beyond just those who carry their children.
Dr. Sanam Hafeez, a neuropsychologist, sheds light on how these cognitive shifts might help new mothers manage the demands of motherhood, stating, "These changes prepare the brain to cope with new motherhood and childbirth's cognitive strain." Beyond mere survival, the brain seems to have been tuned to thrive during these early parenting days.
Dr. Jacqueline Carr, another voice behind the brain development conversation, provided insights on the importance of the hippocampus—the area responsible for memory and navigation. Changes within this structure during pregnancy may provide support for the cognitive skills necessary to care for infants.
But what about the oh-so-common experiences dubbed as 'mom brain'? Mistaken identities for household items or misremembered tasks are often laughed off but they play a role. Dr. Delia McCabe discussed how these neural rewiring instances make intuitive sense as the brain adapts to fulfill its nurturing role effectively.
Overall, this research paints an amazing story of transformation and adaptation during one of life’s most complex journeys. The project highlights the necessity of viewing cognitive changes during pregnancy and motherhood through a lens of opportunity rather than deficits. These neurological adaptations suggest support systems and strategies can be implemented to assist new parents as they navigate the cognitive shifts belonging to this pivotal period.
Jacobs, reflecting on the beauty of these brain changes, likens the process to sculpting. "Think about Michelangelo's David, right? The artist starts off with this block of marble, and through the art of removal, the underlying beauty is revealed through change."
Moving forward, the importance of this research extends beyond the scientific community and could lay the groundwork for improved support systems for expectant and new parents. With increased awareness, we could promote brain health proactively and bolster the well-being of families who face such significant transformations.
The idea remains—understanding these intimate changes within the maternal brain can potentially improve the parenting experience and facilitate healthier environments for both mothers and their children.
