Pregnancy leads to permanent rewiring of brain, study suggests

Research in mice reveals hormonal changes late in pregnancy trigger parenting instinct and switch in priorities

Pregnancy leads to a permanent rewiring of neurons, according to research that gives new insights into the influence of hormones on behaviour.

The research, in mice, revealed that their parenting instincts were triggered by changes in the brain that occur in response to oestrogen and progesterone late in pregnancy. Similar changes are likely to occur in the human brain, according to scientists, who said the work could pave the way for fresh understanding into parenting behaviour and postpartum mental health.