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The transition to motherhood: linking hormones, brain and behaviour

Nature Reviews Neuroscience volume 24, pages 605–619 (2023)Cite this article

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An Author Correction to this article was published on 29 September 2023

A Publisher Correction to this article was published on 29 September 2023

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Abstract

We are witnessing a stark increase in scientific interest in the neurobiological processes associated with pregnancy and maternity. Convergent evidence suggests that around the time of labour, first-time mothers experience a specific pattern of neuroanatomical changes that are associated with maternal behaviour. Here we provide an overview of the human neurobiological adaptations of motherhood, focusing on the interplay between pregnancy-related steroid and peptide hormones, and neuroplasticity in the brain. We discuss which brain plasticity mechanisms might underlie the structural changes detected by MRI, which hormonal systems are likely to contribute to such neuroanatomical changes and how these brain mechanisms may be linked to maternal behaviour. This Review offers an overarching framework that can serve as a roadmap for future investigations.

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Fig. 1: Changes in grey matter volume during the transition to motherhood.
Fig. 2: Grey matter and hormonal trajectories across motherhood transition in humans.
Fig. 3: Maternal circuit in rodents.

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Acknowledgements

This work has received funding from the European Research Council under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (Grant Agreement No. 883069), ‘la Caixa’ Foundation under the project code LCF/PR/HR19/52160001, Instituto de Salud Carlos III project PI22/01365 and co-funded by European Regional Development Fund. M.M.-G. was funded by Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Predoctorales de Formación en Investigación en Salud (PFIS) (contract FI18/00255) and S.C. was funded by a Miguel Servet Type II research contract (CPII21/00016). M.M.-G. and S.C. were co-funded by European Social Fund ‘Investing in your future’. A.S. was supported by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (PRE2019–091422). B.L. was supported by grants from the National Institute of Mental Health (MH117482) and the National Science Foundation (2114381).

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  1. These authors contributed equally: Camila Servin-Barthet, Magdalena Martínez-García.

  2. These authors jointly supervised this work: Oscar Vilarroya, Susanna Carmona.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unitat de Recerca en Neurociència Cognitiva, Departament de Psiquiatria i Medicina Legal, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Camila Servin-Barthet, Anna Soler & Oscar Vilarroya

  2. Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain

    Camila Servin-Barthet, Clara Pretus, Anna Soler, Olha Khymenets, Óscar J. Pozo & Oscar Vilarroya

  3. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañon, Madrid, Spain

    Magdalena Martínez-García, Maria Paternina-Die & Susana Carmona

  4. Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain

    Magdalena Martínez-García, Maria Paternina-Die & Susana Carmona

  5. Departament de Psicobiologia i de Metodologia de els Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Clara Pretus

  6. Psychology Department, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA

    Benedetta Leuner

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Contributions

O.V., C.S.-B., M.M.-G., A.S., O.J.P., S.C. and O.K. researched data for the article. O.V., C.S.-B., M.M.-G., C.P., M.P.-P. and S.C. made substantial contributions to discussion of content. The article was written by O.V., C.S.-B., M.M.-G., C.P., A.S., O.J.P., S.C. and O.K. O.V., C.S.-B., M.M.-G., C.P., M.P.-P., S.C and B.L. reviewed and edited the manuscript before submission.

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Glossary

Astrocytes

Most abundant glial cells that participate in the maintenance of ionic and chemical homeostasis of the synaptic cleft, are involved in the response to injury and affect neuronal development and plasticity.

Corpus luteum

A transient endocrine gland that forms in an ovary by residual follicular wall cells following ovulation.

Corticosterone

Main glucocorticoid in several species including rodents. In humans, the main glucocorticoid is cortisol. Thus, corticosterone effects in rodents are commonly associated with cortisol effects in humans.

Dendrites

Branched extensions of neurons that serve as the entry site of synaptic inputs into neurons. They can be pruned, lengthened and branched out as necessary to refine synaptic function.

Dendritic spine

Small membranous protrusion from the dendrite of a neuron that receives a synaptic input from axons, constantly forming and disappearing in response to neuronal activity.

Microglia

Macrophage-like glial cells that are involved in immune responses, as well as in surveying the development and remodelling of the nervous system.

Neurogenesis

Multistage process consisting of neural stem cell proliferation, differentiation into neuronal cell types, migration to target regions, maturation and integration within specific neural circuits.

Nulliparous

A woman who has never given birth.

Oligodendrocytes

Glial cells that produce the myelin sheath that insulates neuronal axons, enhancing the speed of the signal conduction.

Parturition

Action of giving birth to offspring; childbirth.

Peripartum

The period shortly before, during and immediately after giving birth.

Postpartum period

Period starting after parturition and lasting up to 6 months.

Pregnancy hormones

Hormones that significantly fluctuate during pregnancy.

Weeks of gestation

The time between the beginning of the last menstrual period and birth.

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Servin-Barthet, C., Martínez-García, M., Pretus, C. et al. The transition to motherhood: linking hormones, brain and behaviour. Nat. Rev. Neurosci. 24, 605–619 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41583-023-00733-6

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