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pregnancy

·September 22, 2024·4 min read

Brain Activity May Help Predict Risk of Postpartum Depression

New research suggests that increased activity in the brain's amygdala during pregnancy may indicate a higher risk of postpartum depression. A study comparing pregnant and non-pregnant women found that those with higher amygdala activity struggled more with emotional regulation and reported more depression symptoms.

This shows the outline of a woman and a brain.

Featured Neuroscience

·September 21, 2024·5 min read

Pregnancy Dramatically Reshapes the Brain

A new study provides the first detailed map of brain changes during pregnancy, showing significant neuroplasticity in adults. Researchers found a decrease in gray matter volume and a temporary increase in white matter in a pregnant brain.

Featured Neuroscience

·August 21, 2024·5 min read

Probiotic During Pregnancy May Boost Fetal Brain Development

A study in mice shows that the probiotic Bifidobacterium breve, when taken by mothers during pregnancy, enhances fetal brain development by improving nutrient transport and growth processes. The findings suggest that altering the maternal gut microbiome with probiotics could be a non-pharmaceutical strategy to support healthy fetal growth, particularly in cases of fetal growth restriction. Further research is needed to confirm these effects in humans and explore how probiotics interact with other gut bacteria during pregnancy.

This shows a woman, leaves, and a brain.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 5, 2024·6 min read

Prenatal Cannabis Use Impacts Brain Development

A new study suggests prenatal cannabis exposure may influence long-term brain development and mental health. Researchers used data from the ABCD Study to examine neuroimaging of children exposed to cannabis in utero.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 30, 2024·4 min read

Prenatal Amphetamine Exposure Impacts Brain Development

A new study used C. elegans to study the long-term effects of amphetamine exposure during embryogenesis, finding significant alterations in dopamine-related genes and proteins. These changes lead to increased sensitivity to amphetamines in adulthood, highlighting potential risks for humans. The study emphasizes the need for careful consideration of amphetamine use during pregnancy due to its lasting impact on brain function.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 26, 2024·7 min read

Gut Bacteria Gas Linked to Pregnancy Hormone, Mood Regulation, and PPD

Researchers discovered that gut bacteria produce a hormone involved in pregnancy and postpartum depression treatment by modifying steroids in bile. This research highlights the microbiome's role as an endocrine organ influencing human health.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 11, 2024·3 min read

Mom’s Stress Hormone Shapes Child’s IQ

Elevated cortisol levels during the third trimester of pregnancy are linked to lower IQ scores in 7-year-old boys, but not in girls. In contrast, higher urine cortisone levels during pregnancy were associated with improved IQ scores in girls.

This shows a pregnant woman surrounded by smoke.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 7, 2024·7 min read

Combined Cannabis and Nicotine Use Amplifies Pregnancy Risks

A new study highlights the compounded risks of using both cannabis and nicotine during pregnancy. The research reveals that simultaneous use of these substances significantly increases the chances of adverse newborn outcomes, such as preterm delivery, small gestational size, and infant mortality.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 26, 2024·4 min read

Maternal Cytokine Levels Linked to Child’s Mental Health

Researchers discovered a critical role for the cytokine XCL1 in fetal brain development and the emotional behavior of offspring, challenging previous assumptions about its low impact due to minimal circulating levels during pregnancy. The study shows that a temporary spike in maternal XCL1 is essential for proper placental development and regulating fear behavior in male offspring.

This shows a pregnant woman looking at pills.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·April 9, 2024·5 min read

Acetaminophen in Pregnancy Not Linked to Autism, ADHD Risk

A comprehensive study involving over 2.4 million Swedish children has debunked the notion that acetaminophen use during pregnancy increases the risk of autism, ADHD, and intellectual disability in offspring. The research employed a novel sibling comparison method to eliminate confounding familial and environmental factors, revealing no increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders among siblings exposed to acetaminophen prenatally versus those who were not.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·April 8, 2024·4 min read

Pregnancy’s Toll: Accelerated Aging in Young Mothers

Pregnancy may accelerate biological aging in women. Utilizing advanced epigenetic clocks to measure DNA methylation, researchers compared the biological age of women with varying numbers of pregnancies against those who had never been pregnant, revealing that increased pregnancies correlate with signs of accelerated aging.

Featured Neuroscience

·March 18, 2024·7 min read

Metformin in Pregnancy: Mixed Outcomes for Developing Brain

A new study explored the effects of metformin, a common treatment for gestational diabetes, on offspring's brain development in a mouse model. While metformin benefits pregnant mothers with gestational diabetes, its impact on the children's brain development remains uncertain, with the study indicating no positive effects on the offspring.

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pregnancy

Brain Activity May Help Predict Risk of Postpartum Depression

Pregnancy Dramatically Reshapes the Brain

Probiotic During Pregnancy May Boost Fetal Brain Development

Prenatal Cannabis Use Impacts Brain Development

Prenatal Amphetamine Exposure Impacts Brain Development

Gut Bacteria Gas Linked to Pregnancy Hormone, Mood Regulation, and PPD

Mom’s Stress Hormone Shapes Child’s IQ

Combined Cannabis and Nicotine Use Amplifies Pregnancy Risks

Maternal Cytokine Levels Linked to Child’s Mental Health

Acetaminophen in Pregnancy Not Linked to Autism, ADHD Risk

Pregnancy’s Toll: Accelerated Aging in Young Mothers

Metformin in Pregnancy: Mixed Outcomes for Developing Brain

Taming Tumor Chaos: Researchers Uncover Key to Improving Glioblastoma Treatment

Hippocampus Predicts Rewards by Reorganizing Memories

Memory Rewritten: Study Finds No Clear Line Between Episodic and Semantic Retrieval

Brain Stimulation Method Can Evaluate Consciousness in Alzheimer’s Disease

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