The Maternal Brain and Its Plasticity in Humans
Publication Date
1-21-2016
Document Type
Article
Organizational Units
College of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences, Psychology
Keywords
Brain imaging, Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), Neural plasticity, Attachment, Parenting, Caregiving, Oxytocin, Maternal, Postpartum psychopathology, Intervention
Abstract
This article is part of a Special Issue “Parental Care”.
Early mother–infant relationships play important roles in infants' optimal development. New mothers undergo neurobiological changes that support developing mother–infant relationships regardless of great individual differences in those relationships. In this article, we review the neural plasticity in human mothers' brains based on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies. First, we review the neural circuits that are involved in establishing and maintaining mother–infant relationships. Second, we discuss early postpartum factors (e.g., birth and feeding methods, hormones, and parental sensitivity) that are associated with individual differences in maternal brain neuroplasticity. Third, we discuss abnormal changes in the maternal brain related to psychopathology (i.e., postpartum depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, substance abuse) and potential brain remodeling associated with interventions. Last, we highlight potentially important future research directions to better understand normative changes in the maternal brain and risks for abnormal changes that may disrupt early mother–infant relationships.
Copyright Date
8-9-2015
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
All Rights Reserved.
Rights Holder
Elsevier Inc.
Provenance
Received from CHORUS
File Format
application/pdf
Language
English (eng)
Extent
11 pgs
File Size
475 KB
Publication Statement
Copyright is held by Elsevier Inc. User is responsible for all copyright compliance. This article was originally published as:
Kim, P., Strathearn, L., & Swain, J. E. (2016). The maternal brain and its plasticity in humans. Hormones and Behavior, 77, 113-123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2015.08.001
Accepted Manuscript is openly available through the "Link to Full Text" button.
The published Version of Record is available at libraries through Compass or Worldcat.
Publication Title
Hormones and Behavior
Volume
77
First Page
113
Last Page
123
ISSN
1095-6867
PubMed ID
26268151
Recommended Citation
Kim, P., Strathearn, L., & Swain, J. E. (2016). The maternal brain and its plasticity in humans. Hormones and Behavior, 77, 113-123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2015.08.001