A new study from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) has revealed that pregnancy causes major changes in the female brain.
These findings could help researchers better understand postpartum depression and overall brain health.
This study is the first to track brain changes during pregnancy, providing new insights into how the brain adapts.
The UCSB team, led by researchers Emily Jacobs and PhD student Laura Pritschet, focused on one woman undergoing her first pregnancy, scanning her brain regularly from before conception through two years post-delivery.
The study found notable changes in the brain’s “white matter” and “gray matter” as pregnancy progressed.
Gray matter, which forms the outer layer of the brain and is responsible for processing information, decreased in volume during pregnancy.
While this might sound concerning, researchers say it’s not necessarily negative.
These changes are believed to be part of a “fine-tuning” process similar to what happens during puberty, preparing the brain for the demands of pregnancy and motherhood.
On the other hand, white matter, which is responsible for communication between different brain regions, increased during pregnancy but only temporarily.
White matter levels peaked in the second trimester but reverted to normal levels by the time of delivery.
The research, published in Nature Neuroscience, could help deepen understanding of the maternal brain and contribute to better detection and treatment of postpartum depression, a condition that affects 1 in 5 new mothers.
“There are now FDA-approved treatments for postpartum depression,” Pritschet explained, “but early detection remains elusive. The more we learn about the maternal brain, the better chance we’ll have to provide relief.”
Researchers hope these findings will help dispel outdated notions about pregnancy.
According to Pritschet, the study demonstrates the brain’s dynamic adaptation during this critical life stage.
“The maternal brain undergoes a choreographed change across gestation, and we are finally able to see it unfold,” Jacobs said.
Beyond postpartum depression, this research could also enhance general knowledge of the human brain, including its aging process.
With 140 million women becoming pregnant each year, this research could have widespread benefits for women’s health.
This study marks a significant step toward understanding how pregnancy reshapes the brain and could offer critical insights into maternal mental health, potentially leading to better care and treatment for future mothers