British scientists from the Francis Crick Institute studied the effect of hormones on the brain during pregnancy. Experiments have shown that substances secreted by the body can adapt to parenthood even before the appearance of offspring. The study was published in the scientific journal magazine Science.
Experts have found that hormones such as estrogen and progesterone are responsible for “reprogramming” the brain.
In a current study using laboratory mice, researchers found that female rodents exhibited increased parental behavior in late pregnancy and that the presence of offspring was not required for this behavioral change.
Experts found that a group of nerve cells in the hypothalamus are exposed to estrogen and progesterone. The hypothalamus is also associated with child rearing.
Brain scans showed that estrogen simultaneously reduced the baseline activity of these neurons and made them more excitable, while progesterone remapped the input signals.
By desensitizing neurons to these hormones, scientists were able to turn off parental behavior during pregnancy. Such mice were not able to care for offspring even after birth.
Researchers believe that the brain may rewire itself in a similar way during pregnancy in humans, as the same hormonal changes are expected to affect the same areas of the brain. This can affect parental behavior.
Previous scientists to create The relationship between a woman’s reproductive lifespan and brain health.