TY - JOUR
T1 - The transition to motherhood
T2 - linking hormones, brain and behaviour
AU - Servin-Barthet, Camila
AU - Martínez-García, Magdalena
AU - Pretus, Clara
AU - Paternina-Pie, Maria
AU - Soler, Anna
AU - Khymenets, Olha
AU - Pozo, Óscar J.
AU - Leuner, Benedetta
AU - Vilarroya, Oscar
AU - Carmona, Susana
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, Springer Nature Limited.
PY - 2023/10
Y1 - 2023/10
N2 - We are witnessing a stark increase in scientific interest in the neurobiological processes associated with pregnancy and maternity. Convergent evidence suggests that around the time of labour, first-time mothers experience a specific pattern of neuroanatomical changes that are associated with maternal behaviour. Here we provide an overview of the human neurobiological adaptations of motherhood, focusing on the interplay between pregnancy-related steroid and peptide hormones, and neuroplasticity in the brain. We discuss which brain plasticity mechanisms might underlie the structural changes detected by MRI, which hormonal systems are likely to contribute to such neuroanatomical changes and how these brain mechanisms may be linked to maternal behaviour. This Review offers an overarching framework that can serve as a roadmap for future investigations.
AB - We are witnessing a stark increase in scientific interest in the neurobiological processes associated with pregnancy and maternity. Convergent evidence suggests that around the time of labour, first-time mothers experience a specific pattern of neuroanatomical changes that are associated with maternal behaviour. Here we provide an overview of the human neurobiological adaptations of motherhood, focusing on the interplay between pregnancy-related steroid and peptide hormones, and neuroplasticity in the brain. We discuss which brain plasticity mechanisms might underlie the structural changes detected by MRI, which hormonal systems are likely to contribute to such neuroanatomical changes and how these brain mechanisms may be linked to maternal behaviour. This Review offers an overarching framework that can serve as a roadmap for future investigations.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85168567923&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1038/s41583-023-00733-6
DO - 10.1038/s41583-023-00733-6
M3 - Review article
C2 - 37612425
AN - SCOPUS:85168567923
SN - 1471-003X
VL - 24
SP - 605
EP - 619
JO - Nature Reviews Neuroscience
JF - Nature Reviews Neuroscience
IS - 10
ER -