A recent study by Camila Servin-Barthet and colleagues demonstrated that the gray matter volume in the brains of biological mothers decreased rapidly during pregnancy and partially recovered after childbirth—though slowly and only partially. The researchers also found that among healthy mothers, higher well-being, lower perceived stress, and lower depression correlated with reduced hostility toward the newborn.
Furthermore, the mother’s overall well-being explained more than 50% of the relationship between gray matter volume recovery and maternal attachment during the postpartum period. This can be interpreted as an indication that neuroanatomical changes occurring after pregnancy influence mothers' mental well-being and, in turn, promote their attachment to their child.
Servin-Barthet’s study expanded humanity’s understanding of how the interaction between hormones, brain development, and behavior affects mothers in such a way that, upon their child’s birth, they generally experience the child as the most cherished part of their life and willingly embrace the great effort required to care for a newborn. At the same time, the study once again demonstrated how a scientific approach enhances our understanding of a vast range of phenomena.
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It's good to research the cause, because the effect is known. Mom's who concentrate and protect their children have a bigger possibility to have grand-children, so their genes will become more dominant.
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