Scientists have discovered that a whopping 94% of mothers' brain grey matter undergoes remarkable changes during pregnancy. The study, conducted by researchers from multiple institutions, reveals a dynamic brain transformation closely tied to hormonal fluctuations. These changes primarily affect regions associated with social cognition, with grey matter volume initially reducing and then partially recovering. The groundbreaking research provides unprecedented insights into the neurological journey of motherhood.
"These
changes are observed in 94 per cent of the brain, being particularly prominent
in regions linked to social cognition" - UAB Research Team
New Delhi, Jan 19: A new
research shows that 94 per cent of the grey matter in the brains of mothers
undergoes changes during pregnancy.
Key Points
1. Brain
grey matter volume reduces significantly during first pregnancy
2. Hormonal
fluctuations drive neurological transformations
3. Social cognition regions most impacted by neural changes
The team from Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB)
found that there is a reduction and partial recovery of almost 5 per cent of
grey matter in 94 per cent of the total grey matter volume of the brain,
especially in regions linked to social cognition.
The study analysed the brains of women during
pregnancy for the first time using neuro-imaging techniques.
The study, published in the journal Nature
Communications, included non-pregnant mothers, whose partners were pregnant, to
distinguish biological effects from those caused by the experience of being a
mother.
Researchers from UAB, the Gregorio Maranon Health
Research Institute and the Hospital del Mar Research Institute together, with
other prestigious international institutions, were part of the study.
The findings reveal a dynamic trajectory in the brain
during pregnancy and postpartum, significantly linked to the steroid hormone
fluctuations inherent to pregnancy, and to the psychological well-being of the
mothers.
The findings revealed that, during the first
pregnancy, gray matter volume in the brain is reduced by up to 4.9 per cent,
with a partial recovery during the postpartum period.
“These changes are observed in 94 per cent of the
brain, being particularly prominent in regions linked to social cognition,”
said the study.
The study also demonstrated, for the first time, that
the evolution of these morphological changes in the brain is associated with
fluctuations in two estrogens hormones that increase exponentially during
pregnancy and return to basal levels after delivery.
The researchers observed that a greater increase and
subsequent decrease in estrogen levels is associated with a greater decrease
and subsequent recovery of brain grey matter volume.—IANS
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