, Columnist
We’re Finally Starting to Understand the Pregnant Brain
The body’s most complex organ undergoes an incredible transformation during pregnancy, possibly becoming more efficient.
Pregnancy brain
Image: Daniela Cossio/University of California, Irvine
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“Pregnancy brain” is often treated as a punchline, but a new study shows it’s a stunning metamorphosis that scientists are just beginning to grasp — potentially unlocking new knowledge about pregnancy complications and the amazing plasticity of our most complex organ.
The research, published today in Nature Neuroscience, offers the first detailed look at the incredible transformation of the human brain during pregnancy. It’s an ambitious and overdue exploration of the ways that the major life event affects women’s short- and long-term health.