The fetal phase of life has long been recognized as a sensitive period of development. Here
we posit that pregnancy represents a simultaneous sensitive period for the adult female with …

The field of neuroscience has largely overlooked the impact of motherhood on brain function
outside the context of responses to infant stimuli. Here, we apply spectral dynamic causal …

There is growing evidence that pregnancy may have a significant impact on the maternal
brain, causing changes in its structure. To investigate the patterns of these changes, we …

Recent studies indicate that the immune system adaptation during pregnancy could play a
significant role in the pathophysiology of perinatal depression. The aim of this study was to …

Whether it is the sound of a distressed cry or the image of a cute face, infants capture our
attention. Parents and other adults alike are drawn into interactions to engage in play …

Socioeconomic adversity has been targeted as a key upstream mechanism with robust
pathogenic effects on maternal caregiving. Although research has demonstrated the …

During the early postpartum period, mothers exhibit increased amygdala responses to
positive infant expressions, which are important for positive mother-infant relationships …

This article is part of a Special Issue “Parental Care”. Until recently, evolutionists
reconstructing mother–infant bonding among human ancestors relied on nonhuman primate …

Background Oxytocin, cortisol, and testosterone are involved in the processing of reward
and stress and greatly influence mother-child interactions. Altered hormonal systems have …

Exposure to severe stress has been linked to negative postpartum outcomes among new
mothers including mood disorders and harsh parenting. Non-human animal studies show …