The Lasting Impact of Pregnancy on the Female Brain

New research in mice suggests that pregnancy permanently rewires the brain to prepare for motherhood. The study shows that hormonal changes, specifically estrogen and progesterone, switch on parental behavior in a small population of neurons in the brain during pregnancy. These hormones impact nerve cells associated with parenting, and when these neurons were altered to not respond to hormones, mice showed no parental behavior. The researchers believe that similar rewiring may occur in humans during pregnancy. Understanding these brain changes could provide insights into parental bonding and conditions such as postpartum depression and psychosis.