Maternal brain resting‐state connectivity in the postpartum period

Abstract

In the postpartum period, the maternal brain experiences both structural and functional plasticity. Although we have a growing understanding of the responses of the human maternal brain to infant stimuli, little is known about the intrinsic connectivity among those regions during the postpartum months. Resting‐state functional connectivity (rsFC) provides a measure of the functional architecture of the brain based upon intrinsic functional connectivity (ie, the temporal correlation in blood oxygenation level dependent signal when the brain is not engaged in a specific task). In the present study, we used resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine how later postpartum months are associated with rsFC and maternal behaviours. We recruited a sample of 47 socioeconomically diverse first‐time mothers with singleton pregnancies. Because the amygdala has been shown to play a critical role in maternal behaviours in the postpartum period, this was chosen as the seed for a seed‐based correlation analysis. For the left amygdala, later postpartum months were associated with greater connectivity with the anterior cingulate gyrus, left nucleus accumbens, right caudate and left cerebellum (P < 0.05, false discovery rate corrected). Furthermore, in an exploratory analysis, we observed indications that rsFC between the left amygdala and left nucleus accumbens was positively associated with maternal structuring during a mother child‐interaction. In addition, later postpartum months were associated with greater connectivity between the right amygdala and the bilateral caudate and right putamen. Overall, we provide evidence of relationships between postpartum months and rsFC in the regions involved in salience detection and regions involved in maternal motivation. Greater connectivity between the amygdala and nucleus accumbens may play a role in positive maternal behaviours.

Neuroprotective effects of motherhood on brain function in late-life: a resting state fMRI study

“…There is emerging evidence to suggest that early parenthood is associated with such generalised changes in resting brain function. Dufford Erhart, and Kim (2019) found increasing functional connectivity between the amygdala, anterior cingulate, nucleus accumbens and cerebellum with increasing time since birth (parturition) in first-time mothers, from 0 to 10 months postpartum. Dufford et al concluded that connectivity between reward/motivation and fear/salience networks may contribute to positive caregiving behaviours.…”

How stress can influence brain adaptations to motherhood

“…While it is not about brain structure, using an overlapping sample from Kim et al, 2018a , Kim et al, 2018b , a separate study examined the associations between postpartum months and intrinsic functional connectivity ( Dufford et al, 2019 ). Among 47 first-time mothers, later postpartum months were associated with an increase in resting-state functional connectivity of the amygdala with the anterior cingulate cortex, nucleus accumbens, and caudate ( Dufford et al, 2019 ). Greater functional connectivity between the amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex was further associated with more positive parenting behaviors – specifically, appropriate scaffolding during interactions with infants ( Dufford et al, 2019 ).…”

“…Among 47 first-time mothers, later postpartum months were associated with an increase in resting-state functional connectivity of the amygdala with the anterior cingulate cortex, nucleus accumbens, and caudate ( Dufford et al, 2019 ). Greater functional connectivity between the amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex was further associated with more positive parenting behaviors – specifically, appropriate scaffolding during interactions with infants ( Dufford et al, 2019 ). In contrast to the findings observed during pregnancy, these four studies conducted during the postpartum period showed no negative associations between postpartum months and structural size or functional connectivity.…”

An epigenomic shift in amygdala marks the transition to maternal behaviors in alloparenting virgin female mice

“…Our studies highlight a special role for the amygdala in the switch from aversion to affection in this behavioral context, a hypothesis that is consistent with the known functions of amygdala in maternal behavior and bonding (Atzil et al, 2017; Wonch et al, 2016). As underscored by human brain imaging studies, maternal behavior involves a global brain response that unfolds over an extended period of pre-and postnatal time (Dufford, Erhart, & Kim, 2019); in the pup-exposed virgins, we detected just the start of this behavioral transition during the third postnatal day. Nevertheless, the mechanisms involved in transition from aversion to intensive pup care in the virgin mice could be relevant to a successful transition to motherhood as well.…”