Pregnancy entails a U-shaped trajectory in human brain structure linked to hormones and maternal attachment
Abstract Growing evidence places the gestational period as a unique moment of heightened neuroplasticity in adult life. In this longitudinal study spanning pre, during, and post pregnancy, we unveil a U-shaped trajectory in gray matter (GM) volume, which dips in late pregnancy and partially recovers...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-55830-0 |
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| author | Camila Servin-Barthet Magdalena Martínez-García María Paternina-Die Luis Marcos-Vidal Daniel Martín de Blas Anna Soler Olha Khymenets Daniel Bergé Gemma Casals Pilar Prats Oscar J. Pozo Clara Pretus Susana Carmona Oscar Vilarroya |
| author_facet | Camila Servin-Barthet Magdalena Martínez-García María Paternina-Die Luis Marcos-Vidal Daniel Martín de Blas Anna Soler Olha Khymenets Daniel Bergé Gemma Casals Pilar Prats Oscar J. Pozo Clara Pretus Susana Carmona Oscar Vilarroya |
| author_sort | Camila Servin-Barthet |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Growing evidence places the gestational period as a unique moment of heightened neuroplasticity in adult life. In this longitudinal study spanning pre, during, and post pregnancy, we unveil a U-shaped trajectory in gray matter (GM) volume, which dips in late pregnancy and partially recovers during postpartum. These changes are most prominent in brain regions associated with the Default Mode and Frontoparietal Network. The U-shaped trajectory is predominantly linked to gestational factors, as it only presents in gestational mothers and correlates with fluctuations in estrogens over time. Finally, the mother’s mental health status mediates the relationship between postpartum GM volume recovery and maternal attachment at 6 months postpartum. This research sheds light on the complex interplay between hormones, brain development, and behavior during the transition to motherhood. It addresses a significant knowledge gap in the neuroscience of human pregnancy and opens new possibilities for interventions aimed at enhancing maternal health and well-being. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ea0c8cf7e19b4c229e80dba406a1e332 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-ea0c8cf7e19b4c229e80dba406a1e3322025-01-19T12:31:48ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-01-0116111410.1038/s41467-025-55830-0Pregnancy entails a U-shaped trajectory in human brain structure linked to hormones and maternal attachmentCamila Servin-Barthet0Magdalena Martínez-García1María Paternina-Die2Luis Marcos-Vidal3Daniel Martín de Blas4Anna Soler5Olha Khymenets6Daniel Bergé7Gemma Casals8Pilar Prats9Oscar J. Pozo10Clara Pretus11Susana Carmona12Oscar Vilarroya13Unitat de Recerca en Neurociència Cognitiva, Departament de Psiquiatria i Medicina Legal, Universitat Autònoma de BarcelonaInstituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio MarañonInstituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio MarañonHospital del Mar Research InstituteInstituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio MarañonUnitat de Recerca en Neurociència Cognitiva, Departament de Psiquiatria i Medicina Legal, Universitat Autònoma de BarcelonaHospital del Mar Research InstituteHospital del Mar Research InstituteAssisted Reproduction Unit, Clinical Institute of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Neonatology, Hospital Clínic de BarcelonaServei de Obstetricia, Departament de Obstetricia, Ginecologia i Medicina de la Reproducció, Hospital Universtiari DexeusHospital del Mar Research InstituteHospital del Mar Research InstituteInstituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio MarañonUnitat de Recerca en Neurociència Cognitiva, Departament de Psiquiatria i Medicina Legal, Universitat Autònoma de BarcelonaAbstract Growing evidence places the gestational period as a unique moment of heightened neuroplasticity in adult life. In this longitudinal study spanning pre, during, and post pregnancy, we unveil a U-shaped trajectory in gray matter (GM) volume, which dips in late pregnancy and partially recovers during postpartum. These changes are most prominent in brain regions associated with the Default Mode and Frontoparietal Network. The U-shaped trajectory is predominantly linked to gestational factors, as it only presents in gestational mothers and correlates with fluctuations in estrogens over time. Finally, the mother’s mental health status mediates the relationship between postpartum GM volume recovery and maternal attachment at 6 months postpartum. This research sheds light on the complex interplay between hormones, brain development, and behavior during the transition to motherhood. It addresses a significant knowledge gap in the neuroscience of human pregnancy and opens new possibilities for interventions aimed at enhancing maternal health and well-being.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-55830-0 |
| spellingShingle | Camila Servin-Barthet Magdalena Martínez-García María Paternina-Die Luis Marcos-Vidal Daniel Martín de Blas Anna Soler Olha Khymenets Daniel Bergé Gemma Casals Pilar Prats Oscar J. Pozo Clara Pretus Susana Carmona Oscar Vilarroya Pregnancy entails a U-shaped trajectory in human brain structure linked to hormones and maternal attachment Nature Communications |
| title | Pregnancy entails a U-shaped trajectory in human brain structure linked to hormones and maternal attachment |
| title_full | Pregnancy entails a U-shaped trajectory in human brain structure linked to hormones and maternal attachment |
| title_fullStr | Pregnancy entails a U-shaped trajectory in human brain structure linked to hormones and maternal attachment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pregnancy entails a U-shaped trajectory in human brain structure linked to hormones and maternal attachment |
| title_short | Pregnancy entails a U-shaped trajectory in human brain structure linked to hormones and maternal attachment |
| title_sort | pregnancy entails a u shaped trajectory in human brain structure linked to hormones and maternal attachment |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-55830-0 |
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