Summary
A study observed that pregnant women experience a decrease in gray matter in their brains, but these changes may help them adapt to motherhood. The research scanned the brains of 127 pregnant women and found these changes might help new mothers relate better to their babies. The study suggests the brain is restructuring itself in a beneficial way during pregnancy.
Key Facts
- The study scanned the brains of 127 pregnant women before, during, and after pregnancy.
- Women experienced an average reduction of nearly 5% in gray matter during pregnancy.
- The decrease in gray matter is thought to help new mothers connect and bond with their babies.
- The brain changes are compared to "pruning" a tree to grow more effectively.
- Gray matter partially returns about six months after childbirth.
- 52 women who had never been pregnant were scanned for comparison in the study.
- The study was published in the journal Nature Communications.
