Title
Human Maternal Brain Plasticity: Adaptation to Parenting
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-2-2016
Organizational Units
College of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences, Psychology
Abstract
New mothers undergo dynamic neural changes that support positive adaptation to parenting and the development of mother–infant relationships. In this article, I review important psychological adaptations that mothers experience during pregnancy and the early postpartum period. I then review evidence of structural and functional plasticity in human mothers’ brains, and explore how such plasticity supports mothers’ psychological adaptation to parenting and sensitive maternal behaviors. Last, I discuss pregnancy and the early postpartum period as a window of vulnerabilities and opportunities when the human maternal brain is influenced by stress and psychopathology, but also receptive to interventions.
Compass Link
https://du-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/f/1jii0mc/TN_cdi_pubmedcentral_primary_oai_pubmedcentral_nih_gov_5667351
Publication Statement
Copyright held by author or publisher. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
Recommended Citation
Kim, P. (2016). Human Maternal Brain Plasticity: Adaptation to Parenting. New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development, 2016(153), 47-58.