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pregnancy

·October 21, 2019·3 min read

Pregnancy stress triggers immune response that may contribute to postpartum depression

Chronic stress during pregnancy increases neuroinflammation. The immune changes may create circumstances in the brain, which increase susceptibility to postnatal depression.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·October 21, 2019·2 min read

Autism spectrum disorder risk linked to insufficient placental steroid

When the hormone allopregnanolone (ALLO) abruptly decreases or stops during pregnancy, children are more likely to develop autism. Researchers report a single ALLO injection during pregnancy can avert the brain abnormalities and social behaviors associated with ASD in experimental mouse models of autism.

Neuroscience

·October 15, 2019·5 min read

Stress during pregnancy may affect baby’s sex and risk of preterm birth

Stress and depression during pregnancy can affect the fetus' sex and increase the risk of preterm birth. Mothers who experienced physical and psychological stress during pregnancy were less likely to have a baby boy. During pregnancy, the fetuses of stressed mothers had reduced heart rate movement coupling, indicating slower central nervous system development.

This shows the DTI of the white matter tracts

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·October 8, 2019·4 min read

Prenatal stress could affect baby’s brain

White matter tracts were significantly altered in babies whose mothers experienced stress during pregnancy.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·October 3, 2019·3 min read

Poor mental and physical health in pregnancy linked to infant sleep problems

Poor prepartum and postpartum physical and mental health was associated with persistent severe sleep problems in their babies.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·October 3, 2019·3 min read

Severe morning sickness associated with higher risk of autism

Mothers who experience hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe form of morning sickness, are 53% more likely to have a child diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

This shows a pregnant woman holding her belly

Autism Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·September 18, 2019·6 min read

Early maternal anemia tied to intellectual disability, ADHD and autism

Children born to mothers diagnosed with anemia before the 31st week of pregnancy were at a higher risk of developing ADHD, ASD, and other intellectual disabilities than children born to mothers diagnosed with anemia during the final weeks of pregnancy. The risk of being diagnosed with autism was 4.9% higher for those born to mothers who experienced early pregnancy anemia. For ADHD, those born to anemic mothers had a 9.3% higher risk than those born to mothers who developed the condition during late pregnancy.

This shows a mom and a toddler aged boy throwing a tantrum

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·September 16, 2019·5 min read

Childhood behavior linked to taking acetaminophen (paracetamol) in pregnancy

Study finds an association between acetaminophen use during mid-to-late pregnancy and increased risk of hyperactivity, attention problems, and other behavioral deficits in young children. Boys appear to be more susceptible to the adverse effects acetaminophen use during pregnancy. However, the negative effects only seem to persist during the early years of life.

Featured Neuroscience

·September 6, 2019·3 min read

Mom’s marijuana use may impair baby’s memory into adolescence

Many pregnant women are turning to marijuana to help curb morning sickness during early pregnancy. A new study reports maternal marijuana use may be detrimental to the brain development of children. Exposure to THC in utero can cause learning and memory problems in children that may continue through adolescence.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·September 2, 2019·4 min read

Why do men find a lower waist-to-hip ratio sexier?

Researchers examine why males tend to rate women with a lower waist-to-hip ratio as more attractive or sexy.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·August 27, 2019·5 min read

Women with chronic physical conditions more likely to experience mental illness in pregnancy

Women who suffer from a chronic physical condition, such as asthma or diabetes, are at increased risk of developing mental health problems both during pregnancy and up to one-year postpartum.