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
All Rights Reserved.

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.

Rights Holder

Elsevier Inc.

Provenance

Received from CHORUS

File Format

application/pdf

Language

English (eng)

Extent

11 pgs

File Size

475 KB

Publication Title

Hormones and Behavior

Volume

77

First Page

113

Last Page

123

ISSN

1095-6867

PubMed ID

26268151

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