{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,22]],"date-time":"2026-05-22T12:14:25Z","timestamp":1779452065110,"version":"3.53.1"},"reference-count":62,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,22]],"date-time":"2026-05-22T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1779408000000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,22]],"date-time":"2026-05-22T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1779408000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001659","name":"Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["410314797; 512021469"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["410314797; 512021469"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001659","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Transl Psychiatry"],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>\n                    The long-term impact of pregnancy and post-childbirth hormonal changes on the maternal brain is yet to be fully understood. Here, we monitored 24 postpartum women longitudinally across six time points over the first 24 weeks following childbirth. By means of structural MRI, we investigated how maternal brain volume, over time and compared to nulliparous women, is associated with receptor distribution maps. While appearing to slow down toward the later time points, the voxel-wise gray matter volumes (GMV) continued to increase for at least 24 postpartum weeks, showing, from the start, a significant association with GABA\n                    <jats:sub>A<\/jats:sub>\n                    and glutamate receptor distributions. The most pronounced increase was observed at three weeks postpartum, compared to childbirth, when the changes were also strongly co-localized with the cortisol, estradiol, and progesterone receptor systems. The volumetric increase from 12 to 24 weeks co-localized with areas of higher oxytocin receptor density. Compared to nulliparous controls, the maternal brains exhibited persistently smaller GMV in the amygdala, the hippocampus, the putamen and the SMA across the entire observation period. In the later postpartum phase, smaller volumes in the left hippocampus, the parahippocampal gyrus and the amygdala were found to be linked to reduced hostility toward the infant. The sustained, receptor-specific brain adaptation throughout the postpartum period was found to be complemented by the experience of maternity, likely mediated by oxytocin release. Given the robust link between these brain alterations and the GABA\n                    <jats:sub>A<\/jats:sub>\n                    and glutamate receptor distributions, our findings indicate a possible role of the excitation-inhibition balance in postpartum mood regulation.\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1038\/s41398-026-04104-4","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,22]],"date-time":"2026-05-22T09:56:36Z","timestamp":1779443796000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Maternal brain alterations based on neurotransmitter and hormone receptor distributions over six months postpartum"],"prefix":"10.1038","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1490-8496","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Elena Maria","family":"Losse","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0002-3895-7062","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Negin","family":"Daneshnia","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0492-5644","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Juergen","family":"Dukart","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5631-5667","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Susanne","family":"Nehls","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9226-6196","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Natalia","family":"Chechko","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,22]]},"reference":[{"key":"4104_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"13","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neuron.2019.02.023","volume":"102","author":"LAM Galea","year":"2019","unstructured":"Galea LAM, Frokjaer VG. Perinatal depression: embracing variability toward better treatment and outcomes. Neuron. 2019;102:13\u201316.","journal-title":"Neuron"},{"key":"4104_CR2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"775","DOI":"10.1210\/er.2004-0025","volume":"26","author":"JR Lindsay","year":"2005","unstructured":"Lindsay JR, Nieman LK. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in pregnancy: challenges in disease detection and treatment. Endocr Rev. 2005;26:775\u201399.","journal-title":"Endocr Rev"},{"key":"4104_CR3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"37","DOI":"10.3389\/fnins.2015.00037","volume":"9","author":"C Barth","year":"2015","unstructured":"Barth C, Villringer A, Sacher J. Sex hormones affect neurotransmitters and shape the adult female brain during hormonal transition periods. Front Neurosci. 2015;9:37.","journal-title":"Front Neurosci"},{"key":"4104_CR4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"795","DOI":"10.2174\/1568026023393507","volume":"2","author":"W Sieghart","year":"2002","unstructured":"Sieghart W, Sperk G. Subunit composition, distribution and function of GABA(A) receptor subtypes. Curr Top Med Chem. 2002;2:795\u2013816.","journal-title":"Curr Top Med Chem"},{"key":"4104_CR5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/S0166-4328(02)00272-3","volume":"140","author":"G Riedel","year":"2003","unstructured":"Riedel G, Platt B, Micheau J. Glutamate receptor function in learning and memory. Behav Brain Res. 2003;140:1\u201347. p.","journal-title":"Behav Brain Res"},{"key":"4104_CR6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"659","DOI":"10.1002\/glia.20644","volume":"56","author":"A Sierra","year":"2008","unstructured":"Sierra A, Gottfried-Blackmore A, Milner TA, McEwen BS, Bulloch K. Steroid hormone receptor expression and function in microglia. Glia. 2008;56:659\u201374.","journal-title":"Glia"},{"key":"4104_CR7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"151","DOI":"10.1007\/s00213-013-3276-5","volume":"230","author":"CM Carver","year":"2013","unstructured":"Carver CM, Reddy DS. Neurosteroid interactions with synaptic and extrasynaptic GABAA receptors: regulation of subunit plasticity, phasic and tonic inhibition, and neuronal network excitability. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2013;230:151\u201388.","journal-title":"Psychopharmacology (Berl)"},{"key":"4104_CR8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1502","DOI":"10.1038\/s42003-024-07198-y","volume":"7","author":"CC Ceballos","year":"2024","unstructured":"Ceballos CC, Ma L, Qin M, Zhong H. Widespread co-release of glutamate and GABA throughout the mouse brain. Commun Biol. 2024;7:1502.","journal-title":"Commun Biol"},{"key":"4104_CR9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"53","DOI":"10.1016\/j.brainres.2014.10.023","volume":"1591","author":"C Zhao","year":"2014","unstructured":"Zhao C, Gammie SC. Glutamate, GABA, and glutamine are synchronously upregulated in the mouse lateral septum during the postpartum period. Brain Res. 2014;1591:53\u201362.","journal-title":"Brain Res"},{"key":"4104_CR10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"101","DOI":"10.1186\/s10020-023-00697-4","volume":"29","author":"B Ye","year":"2023","unstructured":"Ye B, Yuan Y, Liu R, Zhou H, Li Y, Sheng Z, et al. Restoring Wnt signaling in a hormone-simulated postpartum depression model remediated imbalanced neurotransmission and depressive-like behaviors. Mol Med. 2023;29:101.","journal-title":"Mol Med"},{"key":"4104_CR11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Froemke, RC, Carcea I, Chapter 13 - Oxytocin and Brain Plasticity, in Principles of Gender-Specific Medicine (Third Edition), MJ Legato, Editor. 2017, San Diego: Academic Press. p. 161-82.","DOI":"10.1016\/B978-0-12-803506-1.00037-1"},{"key":"4104_CR12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"653","DOI":"10.1210\/jcem-62-4-653","volume":"62","author":"JM Johnston","year":"1986","unstructured":"Johnston JM, Amico JA. A prospective longitudinal study of the release of oxytocin and prolactin in response to infant suckling in long term lactation*. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1986;62:653\u20137.","journal-title":"J Clin Endocrinol Metab"},{"key":"4104_CR13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"649","DOI":"10.1111\/jne.12188","volume":"26","author":"JS Lonstein","year":"2014","unstructured":"Lonstein JS, Maguire J, Meinlschmidt G, Neumann ID. Emotion and mood adaptations in the peripartum female: complementary contributions of GABA and oxytocin. J Neuroendocrinol. 2014;26:649\u201364.","journal-title":"J Neuroendocrinol"},{"key":"4104_CR14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4","DOI":"10.3389\/fncel.2012.00004","volume":"6","author":"I Mody","year":"2012","unstructured":"Mody I, Maguire J. The reciprocal regulation of stress hormones and GABAA receptors. Front Cell Neurosci. 2012;6:4.","journal-title":"Front Cell Neurosci"},{"key":"4104_CR15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"605","DOI":"10.1038\/s41583-023-00733-6","volume":"24","author":"C Servin-Barthet","year":"2023","unstructured":"Servin-Barthet C, Mart\u00ednez-Garc\u00eda M, Pretus C, Paternina-Die M, Soler A, Khymenets O, et al. The transition to motherhood: linking hormones, brain and behaviour. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2023;24:605\u201319.","journal-title":"Nat Rev Neurosci"},{"key":"4104_CR16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"119646","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neuroimage.2022.119646","volume":"263","author":"E Luders","year":"2022","unstructured":"Luders E, Kurth F, Sundstr\u00f6m Poromaa I. The neuroanatomy of pregnancy and postpartum. Neuroimage. 2022;263:119646.","journal-title":"Neuroimage"},{"key":"4104_CR17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"730.","DOI":"10.1038\/s41467-025-55830-0","volume":"16","author":"C Servin-Barthet","year":"2025","unstructured":"Servin-Barthet C, Mart\u00ednez-Garc\u00eda M, Paternina-Die M, Marcos-Vidal L, de Blas DM, Soler A, et al. Pregnancy entails a U-shaped trajectory in human brain structure linked to hormones and maternal attachment. Nat Commun. 2025;16:730.","journal-title":"Nat Commun"},{"key":"4104_CR18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"10","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tics.2024.10.011","volume":"29","author":"S Halmans","year":"2025","unstructured":"Halmans S, Straathof M, Hoekzema EA. Dynamic brain plasticity during the transition to motherhood. Trends Cogn Sci. 2025;29:10\u201311.","journal-title":"Trends Cogn Sci"},{"key":"4104_CR19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2253","DOI":"10.1038\/s41593-024-01741-0","volume":"27","author":"L Pritschet","year":"2024","unstructured":"Pritschet L, Taylor CM, Cossio D, Faskowitz J, Santander T, Handwerker DA, et al. Neuroanatomical changes observed over the course of a human pregnancy. Nat Neurosci. 2024;27:2253\u201360.","journal-title":"Nat Neurosci"},{"key":"4104_CR20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e45","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biopsych.2021.08.025","volume":"91","author":"J Dukart","year":"2022","unstructured":"Dukart J, Markello RD, Raine A, Eickhoff SB, Poeppl TB. Aberrant brain activity in individuals with psychopathy links to receptor distribution, gene expression, and behavior. Biol Psychiatry. 2022;91:e45\u2013e47.","journal-title":"Biol Psychiatry"},{"key":"4104_CR21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2245","DOI":"10.1002\/hbm.26206","volume":"44","author":"E Premi","year":"2023","unstructured":"Premi E, Dukart J, Mattioli I, Libri I, Pengo M, Gadola Y, et al. Unravelling neurotransmitters impairment in primary progressive aphasias. Hum Brain Mapp. 2023;44:2245\u201353.","journal-title":"Hum Brain Mapp"},{"key":"4104_CR22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lotter LD, Nehls S, Losse E, Dukart J, Chechko N. Temporal dissociation between local and global functional adaptations of the maternal brain to childbirth: a longitudinal assessment. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2024.","DOI":"10.1101\/2023.08.15.553345"},{"key":"4104_CR23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s41398-024-02805-2","volume":"14","author":"S Nehls","year":"2024","unstructured":"Nehls S, Losse E, Enzensberger C, Frodl T, Chechko N. Time-sensitive changes in the maternal brain and their influence on mother-child attachment. Transl Psychiatry. 2024;14:84.","journal-title":"Transl Psychiatry"},{"key":"4104_CR24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4025","DOI":"10.1093\/cercor\/bhab463","volume":"32","author":"N Chechko","year":"2022","unstructured":"Chechko N, Dukart J, Tchaikovski S, Enzensberger C, Neuner I, Stickel S. The expectant brain\u2013pregnancy leads to changes in brain morphology in the early postpartum period. Cereb Cortex. 2022;32:4025\u201338.","journal-title":"Cereb Cortex"},{"key":"4104_CR25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1261","DOI":"10.1016\/S0306-4522(02)00446-3","volume":"115","author":"HT Ghashghaei","year":"2002","unstructured":"Ghashghaei HT, Barbas H. Pathways for emotion: interactions of prefrontal and anterior temporal pathways in the amygdala of the rhesus monkey. Neuroscience. 2002;115:1261\u201379.","journal-title":"Neuroscience"},{"key":"4104_CR26","first-page":"22","volume":"4","author":"M Romano","year":"2010","unstructured":"Romano M, Cacciatore A, Giordano R, La Rosa B. Postpartum period: three distinct but continuous phases. J Prenat Med. 2010;4:22\u20135.","journal-title":"J Prenat Med"},{"key":"4104_CR27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Chechko, N., Nehls, S. Maternal neuroplasticity and mental health during the transition to motherhood. Nat. Mental Health 2025;3:396\u2013401.","DOI":"10.1038\/s44220-025-00399-2"},{"key":"4104_CR28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"287","DOI":"10.1038\/nn.4458","volume":"20","author":"E Hoekzema","year":"2017","unstructured":"Hoekzema E, Barba-M\u00fcller E, Pozzobon C, Picado M, Lucco F, Garc\u00eda-Garc\u00eda D, et al. Pregnancy leads to long-lasting changes in human brain structure. Nat Neurosci. 2017;20:287\u201396.","journal-title":"Nat Neurosci"},{"key":"4104_CR29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s41467-022-33884-8","volume":"13","author":"E Hoekzema","year":"2022","unstructured":"Hoekzema E, van Steenbergen H, Straathof M, Beekmans A, Freund IM, Pouwels PJW, et al. Mapping the effects of pregnancy on resting state brain activity, white matter microstructure, neural metabolite concentrations and grey matter architecture. Nat Commun. 2022;13:6931.","journal-title":"Nat Commun"},{"key":"4104_CR30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"679","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neubiorev.2021.11.029","volume":"132","author":"LE Been","year":"2022","unstructured":"Been LE, Sheppard PAS, Galea LAM, Glasper ER. Hormones and neuroplasticity: A lifetime of adaptive responses. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2022;132:679\u201390.","journal-title":"Neurosci Biobehav Rev"},{"key":"4104_CR31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"57","DOI":"10.1080\/02646839808404558","volume":"16","author":"JT Condon","year":"1998","unstructured":"Condon JT, Corkindale CJ. The assessment of parent-to-infant attachment: Development of a self-report questionnaire instrument. J Reprod Infant Psychol. 1998;16:57\u201376.","journal-title":"J Reprod Infant Psychol"},{"key":"4104_CR32","volume-title":"Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences","author":"J Cohen","year":"1988","unstructured":"Cohen J Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences. 2nd ed. Routledge; 1988.","edition":"2nd ed."},{"key":"4104_CR33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/gigascience\/giae049","volume":"13","author":"C Gaser","year":"2024","unstructured":"Gaser C, Dahnke R, Thompson PM, Kurth F, Luders E, the Alzheimer\u2019s Disease Neuroimaging. Initiative, CAT: a computational anatomy toolbox for the analysis of structural MRI data. Gigascience. 2024;13:giae049.","journal-title":"Gigascience"},{"key":"4104_CR34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"412","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neuroimage.2013.12.058","volume":"91","author":"CW Woo","year":"2014","unstructured":"Woo CW, Krishnan A, Wager TD. Cluster-extent based thresholding in fMRI analyses: pitfalls and recommendations. Neuroimage. 2014;91:412\u20139.","journal-title":"Neuroimage"},{"key":"4104_CR35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"116189","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neuroimage.2019.116189","volume":"206","author":"ET Rolls","year":"2020","unstructured":"Rolls ET, Huang C-C, Lin C-P, Feng J, Joliot M. Automated anatomical labelling atlas 3. Neuroimage. 2020;206:116189.","journal-title":"Neuroimage"},{"key":"4104_CR36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"555","DOI":"10.1002\/hbm.25244","volume":"42","author":"J Dukart","year":"2021","unstructured":"Dukart J, Holiga S, Rullmann M, Lanzenberger R, Hawkins PCT, Mehta MA, et al. JuSpace: A tool for spatial correlation analyses of magnetic resonance imaging data with nuclear imaging derived neurotransmitter maps. Hum Brain Mapp. 2021;42:555\u201366.","journal-title":"Hum Brain Mapp"},{"key":"4104_CR37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"391","DOI":"10.1038\/nature11405","volume":"489","author":"MJ Hawrylycz","year":"2012","unstructured":"Hawrylycz MJ, Lein ES, Guillozet-Bongaarts AL, Shen EH, Ng L, Miller JA, et al. An anatomically comprehensive atlas of the adult human brain transcriptome. Nature. 2012;489:391\u20139.","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"4104_CR38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-018-22444-0","volume":"8","author":"J Dukart","year":"2018","unstructured":"Dukart J, Holiga \u0160, Chatham C, Hawkins P, Forsyth A, McMillan R, et al. Cerebral blood flow predicts differential neurotransmitter activity. Sci Rep. 2018;8:4074.","journal-title":"Sci Rep"},{"key":"4104_CR39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1569","DOI":"10.1038\/s41593-022-01186-3","volume":"25","author":"JY Hansen","year":"2022","unstructured":"Hansen JY, Shafiei G, Markello RD, Smart K, Cox SML, N\u00f8rgaard M, et al. Mapping neurotransmitter systems to the structural and functional organization of the human neocortex. Nat Neurosci. 2022;25:1569\u201381.","journal-title":"Nat Neurosci"},{"key":"4104_CR40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"447","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neuroimage.2012.07.001","volume":"63","author":"M Savli","year":"2012","unstructured":"Savli M, Bauer A, Mitterhauser M, Ding Y-S, Hahn A, Kroll T, et al. Normative database of the serotonergic system in healthy subjects using multi-tracer PET. Neuroimage. 2012;63:447\u201359.","journal-title":"Neuroimage"},{"key":"4104_CR41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1025","DOI":"10.1007\/s00259-017-3645-0","volume":"44","author":"S Kaller","year":"2017","unstructured":"Kaller S, Rullmann M, Patt M, Becker G-A, Luthardt J, Girbardt J, et al. Test\u2013retest measurements of dopamine D1-type receptors using simultaneous PET\/MRI imaging. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2017;44:1025\u201332.","journal-title":"Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging"},{"key":"4104_CR42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1069","DOI":"10.1177\/1535370221989263","volume":"246","author":"SM Sears","year":"2021","unstructured":"Sears SM, Hewett SJ. Influence of glutamate and GABA transport on brain excitatory\/inhibitory balance. Exp Biol Med. 2021;246:1069\u201383.","journal-title":"Exp Biol Med"},{"key":"4104_CR43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3257","DOI":"10.1038\/s41380-023-02193-x","volume":"28","author":"YT Hu","year":"2023","unstructured":"Hu YT, Tan ZL, Hirjak D, Northoff G. Brain-wide changes in excitation-inhibition balance of major depressive disorder: a systematic review of topographic patterns of GABA- and glutamatergic alterations. Mol Psychiatry. 2023;28:3257\u201366.","journal-title":"Mol Psychiatry"},{"key":"4104_CR44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e3","DOI":"10.1192\/bjo.2023.612","volume":"10","author":"N Chechko","year":"2024","unstructured":"Chechko N, Losse E, Frodl T, Nehls S. Baby blues, premenstrual syndrome and postpartum affective disorders: intersection of risk factors and reciprocal influences. BJPsych Open. 2024;10:e3.","journal-title":"BJPsych Open"},{"key":"4104_CR45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s41398-023-02514-2","volume":"13","author":"AJ Cutler","year":"2023","unstructured":"Cutler AJ, Mattingly GW, Maletic V. Understanding the mechanism of action and clinical effects of neuroactive steroids and GABAergic compounds in major depressive disorder. Transl Psychiatry. 2023;13:228.","journal-title":"Transl Psychiatry"},{"key":"4104_CR46","first-page":"e65866","volume":"16","author":"M Singhal","year":"2024","unstructured":"Singhal M, Modi N, Bansal L, Abraham J, Mehta I, Ravi A. The emerging role of neurosteroids: novel drugs brexanalone, sepranolone, zuranolone, and ganaxolone in mood and neurological disorders. Cureus. 2024;16:e65866.","journal-title":"Cureus"},{"key":"4104_CR47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"70","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neuropsychologia.2017.01.001","volume":"105","author":"KM Igelstr\u00f6m","year":"2017","unstructured":"Igelstr\u00f6m KM, Graziano MSA. The inferior parietal lobule and temporoparietal junction: A network perspective. Neuropsychologia. 2017;105:70\u201383.","journal-title":"Neuropsychologia"},{"key":"4104_CR48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"49","DOI":"10.1016\/S0010-9452(08)70177-1","volume":"41","author":"G Pourtois","year":"2005","unstructured":"Pourtois G, de Gelder B, Bol A, Crommelinck M. Perception of Facial Expressions and Voices and of their Combination in the Human Brain. Cortex. 2005;41:49\u201359.","journal-title":"Cortex"},{"key":"4104_CR49","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1028546","DOI":"10.3389\/fnana.2022.1028546","volume":"16","author":"D Ben Shalom","year":"2022","unstructured":"Ben Shalom D. The amygdala\u2013insula\u2013medial prefrontal cortex\u2013lateral prefrontal cortex pathway and its disorders. Front Neuroanat. 2022;16:1028546.","journal-title":"Front Neuroanat"},{"key":"4104_CR50","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1364","DOI":"10.1038\/nn.4115","volume":"18","author":"S Chattarji","year":"2015","unstructured":"Chattarji S, Tomar A, Suvrathan A, Ghosh S, Rahman MM. Neighborhood matters: divergent patterns of stress-induced plasticity across the brain. Nat Neurosci. 2015;18:1364\u201375.","journal-title":"Nat Neurosci"},{"key":"4104_CR51","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"387","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tins.2015.04.004","volume":"38","author":"R Feldman","year":"2015","unstructured":"Feldman R. The adaptive human parental brain: implications for children\u2019s social development. Trends Neurosci. 2015;38:387\u201399.","journal-title":"Trends Neurosci"},{"key":"4104_CR52","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"104475","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neubiorev.2021.11.045","volume":"133","author":"JL Pawluski","year":"2022","unstructured":"Pawluski JL, Hoekzema E, Leuner B, Lonstein JS. Less can be more: Fine tuning the maternal brain. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2022;133:104475.","journal-title":"Neurosci Biobehav Rev"},{"key":"4104_CR53","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2361","DOI":"10.1073\/pnas.1612233114","volume":"114","author":"S Atzil","year":"2017","unstructured":"Atzil S, Touroutoglou A, Rudy T, Salcedo S, Feldman R, Hooker JM, et al. Dopamine in the medial amygdala network mediates human bonding. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 2017;114:2361\u20136.","journal-title":"Proc Natl Acad Sci"},{"key":"4104_CR54","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"14729","DOI":"10.1523\/JNEUROSCI.1599-12.2012","volume":"32","author":"KC Bickart","year":"2012","unstructured":"Bickart KC, Hollenbeck MC, Barrett LF, Dickerson BC. Intrinsic amygdala\u2013cortical functional connectivity predicts social network size in humans. J Neurosci. 2012;32:14729.","journal-title":"J Neurosci"},{"key":"4104_CR55","first-page":"19","volume":"23","author":"A Oatridge","year":"2002","unstructured":"Oatridge A, Holdcroft A, Saeed N, Hajnal JV, Puri BK, Fusi L, et al. Change in brain size during and after pregnancy: study in healthy women and women with preeclampsia. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2002;23:19\u201326.","journal-title":"AJNR Am J Neuroradiol"},{"key":"4104_CR56","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"168","DOI":"10.3390\/brainsci11020168","volume":"11","author":"M Mart\u00ednez-Garc\u00eda","year":"2021","unstructured":"Mart\u00ednez-Garc\u00eda M, Paternina-Die M, Barba-M\u00fcller E, Mart\u00edn de Blas D, Beumala L, Cortizo R, et al. Do pregnancy-induced brain changes reverse? the brain of a mother six years after parturition. Brain Sci. 2021;11:168.","journal-title":"Brain Sci"},{"key":"4104_CR57","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mart\u00ednez-Garc\u00eda, M, Cardenas SI, Pawluski J, Carmona S, Saxbe DE Recent Neuroscience Advances in Human Parenting, in Patterns of Parental Behavior: From Animal Science to Comparative Ethology and Neuroscience, G Gonz\u00e1lez-Mariscal, Editor. 2022, Cham: Springer International Publishing. p. 239-67.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-030-97762-7_8"},{"key":"4104_CR58","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"263310552513154","DOI":"10.1177\/26331055251315488","volume":"20","author":"N Chechko","year":"2025","unstructured":"Chechko N, Nehls S. From pregnancy to postpartum: the dynamic reorganization of the maternal brain. Neurosci Insights. 2025;20:26331055251315488.","journal-title":"Neurosci Insights"},{"key":"4104_CR59","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"302","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tics.2022.12.002","volume":"27","author":"ER Orchard","year":"2023","unstructured":"Orchard ER, Rutherford HJV, Holmes AJ, Jamadar SD. Matrescence: lifetime impact of motherhood on cognition and the brain. Trends Cogn Sci. 2023;27:302\u201316.","journal-title":"Trends Cogn Sci"},{"key":"4104_CR60","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1270","DOI":"10.1093\/cercor\/bhaa293","volume":"31","author":"ER Orchard","year":"2021","unstructured":"Orchard ER, Ward PGD, Chopra S, Storey E, Egan GF, Jamadar SD. Neuroprotective effects of motherhood on brain function in late life: a resting-state fMRI study. Cereb Cortex. 2021;31:1270\u201383.","journal-title":"Cereb Cortex"},{"key":"4104_CR61","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4718","DOI":"10.1002\/hbm.25152","volume":"41","author":"AG de Lange","year":"2020","unstructured":"de Lange AG, Barth C, Kaufmann T, Anat\u00fcrk M, Suri S, Ebmeier KP, et al. The maternal brain: Region-specific patterns of brain aging are traceable decades after childbirth. Hum Brain Mapp. 2020;41:4718\u201329.","journal-title":"Hum Brain Mapp"},{"key":"4104_CR62","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"22341","DOI":"10.1073\/pnas.1910666116","volume":"116","author":"AG de Lange","year":"2019","unstructured":"de Lange AG, Kaufmann T, van der Meer D, Maglanoc LA, Aln\u00e6s D, Moberget T, et al. Population-based neuroimaging reveals traces of childbirth in the maternal brain. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2019;116:22341\u20136.","journal-title":"Proc Natl Acad Sci USA"}],"container-title":["Translational Psychiatry"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41398-026-04104-4","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41398-026-04104-4.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41398-026-04104-4.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,22]],"date-time":"2026-05-22T12:04:06Z","timestamp":1779451446000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41398-026-04104-4"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,22]]},"references-count":62,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,12]]}},"alternative-id":["4104"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41398-026-04104-4","relation":{},"ISSN":["2158-3188"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2158-3188","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,22]]},"assertion":[{"value":"10 September 2025","order":1,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"13 April 2026","order":2,"name":"revised","label":"Revised","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"13 May 2026","order":3,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"22 May 2026","order":4,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"The authors declare no competing interests.","order":1,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Competing interests"}},{"value":"Each participant provided written informed consent prior to enrollment in the study. The study, approved by the Institutional Review Board of the University Hospital Aachen, conformed to the ethical standards of the Helsinki declaration from 2008 (EK-178\/22).","order":2,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Ethics approval and consent to participate"}}],"article-number":"280"}}