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mothers

·June 4, 2024·6 min read

Structural Abnormalities in Brains’ of Mothers Who Abuse Kids

A new study used brain imaging to identify structural brain abnormalities in mothers who commit child abuse. Reduced integrity in the corticospinal tract was linked to impulsivity and movement control issues. These findings highlight the neurobiological factors in child abuse, pointing to potential prevention strategies.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·October 4, 2023·4 min read

Single Protein Rewires the Brain to Adapt to Motherhood

The presence of the MECP2 protein in parvalbumin (PV) neurons is crucial for newly-mothering mice to rapidly learn and respond to their pups’ distress cries, hinting at how the brain rewires during pivotal adult learning phases. When MECP2 is absent, maternal mice show neglectful behavior toward their young, illuminating how the protein’s dysfunction could contribute to communication and interpretation deficits in neurodevelopmental disorders like Rett syndrome in humans.

Featured Neuroscience

·September 20, 2023·5 min read

How Infant Cries Activate Mother’s Nursing Response

A new study unveils the brain mechanism in rodents behind a mother's quick response to her newborn's cry by releasing breast milk. The research reveals that a baby's wail triggers the release of the hormone oxytocin, facilitating lactation.

This shows a mom blowing bubbles with her son

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·November 16, 2022·5 min read

Mothers’ Activity Levels May Depend on Number and Ages of Children

Mothers with school-age children perform slightly more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day than those with younger children. Less than 50% of mothers met the recommended 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week.

This shows a female macaque and a toy of a baby monkey

Featured Neuroscience

·September 20, 2022·12 min read

Observations in Macaques Provide New Insights Into How Mothers Form Attachments to Their Newborns

Female macaques appear to form an attachment to their infants via tactile sensations of their soft textures rather than on other cues, including sight and sound.

This shows a mom's hand holding a baby's feet

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 7, 2022·6 min read

How Mothers Calm Their Distressed Infants With Soothing Signals

Study reveals how postpartum depression has an impact on how a mother soothes her baby and changes in maternal neurobiological mechanisms when it comes to soothing.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 23, 2022·4 min read

Moms at Highest Risk for Postpartum Depression Identified

Younger mothers, first time moms, and women who give birth to twins are at the highest risk of developing postpartum depression, a new study reports.

Featured Neuroscience

·February 21, 2022·4 min read

Hormone Found to Regulate Mothers’ Behavior

Prolactin, a hormone responsible for milk production in mothers, reduces a mother's investment in aggressive behaviors and helps to increase protective behaviors.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·June 1, 2021·4 min read

Why Moms Take Risks to Protect Their Infants

A mother's overwhelming desire to take risks in the face of danger to protect her child, and other nurturing behaviors, are driven by neurons in the cMPOA region of the hypothalamus which contains a protein called the calcitonin receptor.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·January 12, 2021·3 min read

Mothers, but Not Fathers, With Multiple Children Report More Fragmented Sleep

Mothers with more than one child reported more sleep disruptions that mothers with just one child. The number of children did not impact the quality, or quantity, of sleep for fathers.

This shows a breastfeeding mom and the structure of oxytocin

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·September 30, 2020·3 min read

Breastfeeding Hormones Make Mothers Happier

Breastfeeding mothers with higher levels of oxytocin show more enhanced positive recognition of adult faces. The findings shed light on how oxytocin may support both continued nurturing behaviors and affects general social cognition of other adults.