We are witnessing a stark increase in scientific interest in the neurobiological processes
associated with pregnancy and maternity. Convergent evidence suggests that around the …

Growing attention has been directed to the inclusion of females in neuroscience studies, and
to the importance of studying sex as a biological variable. However, how female-specific …

Becoming a mother is associated with dramatic changes in physiology, endocrinology,
immune function, and behaviour that begins during pregnancy and persists into the …

As any new parent knows, having a baby provides opportunities for enrichment, learning
and stress–experiences known to change the adult brain. Yet surprisingly little is known …

Neuroscience has made remarkable progress in understanding the architecture of human
intelligence, identifying a distributed network of brain structures that support goal-directed …

Physical exercise enhances a wide range of cognitive functions in humans. Running-
induced cognitive enhancement has also been demonstrated in rodents but with a strong …

The time of pregnancy, birth, and lactation, is characterized by numerous specific alterations
in several systems of the maternal body. Peripartum‐associated changes in physiology and …

Pregnancy and motherhood constitute periods of tremendous hormonal variation that
orchestrate parturition, lactation, maternal care, maternal aggression, and recognition of …

This article is part of a Special Issue “Parental Care”. It is becoming clear that the female
brain has an inherent plasticity that is expressed during reproduction. The changes that …

The maternal brain displays considerable plasticity, and motherhood is associated with
changes in affective and cognitive function. Motherhood can alter the trajectory of brain …